Conference Feedback

There was not one aspect about the conference that I did not enjoy or found not meaningful. We really can go back and apply what we have learnt during the conference. I also value the fact the there is a support system due to collaboration of different attendees.

It was wonderful AND reassuring to network and reconnect with other professionals. The speakers were all amazing. I also loved that we were inclusive to people who couldn’t attend in person to attend virtually. Great job, team!

Everything was meaningful and wonderful, from the well run sessions, coffee breaks, networking to just being in the presence of like minded colleagues and educators. Thank you to the SENIA team for being exceptional advocates for ALL students. Our lives are enriched because of your endless efforts.

Fantastic opportunity as always. SENIA never disappoints.

I really enjoyed connecting with people, sharing ideas and learning. I feel refreshed. Although I know there is much room for growth and improvement, I also feel good that we are doing so much already to support neurodiiverse students in our school. I feel energised to go back and work with colleagues to improve neurodiverse interventions and systems within our school and context.
Thank you for a wonderful conference.

I loved the student and parent panels.

It was my first SENIA conference, and I was impressed with the Executive Directors, the Board member, and the SENIA volunteers. It was very collaborative and an excellent model of how teams should work together. The quality of the sessions I attended was excellent – they were relevant, useful, applicable and provided me with ideas to bring back to our team so that we continue this journey.

The conference was extremely well organized and ran like a well-oiled machine. Everything from the airport transfers to the daily bus shuttle were punctual and efficient. The Whova app was great and I love that I am leaving with loads of resources. I felt like I belonged as soon as I arrived in South Africa and was welcomed with open arms by the SENIA organizers. As a new learning support teacher, this conference allowed me to meet individuals from across the globe and expand my network of passionate and caring educators. This conference felt like I was joining a family and I have made friendships with plans to visit two new countries already this year. Thank you for creating a welcoming space that allows passion and innovation to flourish.

The conference was extremely well organized and ran like a well-oiled machine. Everything from the airport transfers to the daily bus shuttle were punctual and efficient. The Whova app was great and I love that I am leaving with loads of resources. I felt like I belonged as soon as I arrived in South Africa and was welcomed with open arms by the SENIA organizers. As a new learning support teacher, this conference allowed me to meet individuals from across the globe and expand my network of passionate and caring educators. This conference felt like I was joining a family and I have made friendships with plans to visit two new countries already this year. Thank you for creating a welcoming space that allows passion and innovation to flourish.

We enjoyed the fact that there were different subsections to choose from so that we could join the ones that were meaningful to us. All the speakers were so inspiring. Loved the conference!

Networking, Student panel and market were great. The venue was excellent and the conference so we’ll organized!

Sessions where we got to share and learn from each other.

*Making connections
*Practical sessions where speakers modeled and used practical approaches to teach the students.
*The food is worth mentioning!

I appreciated the large range of sessions to choose from.
The student and parent panel were a great idea.

Mostly Estelle’s presentations and especially the pre conference it was so welcoming and fun and I was looking forward and started the conference with a positive attitude

Connecting with colleagues around the world, the student and parent panels

The first keynote speaker was my favorite, followed by the student and parent panel.

The theme was very appropriate and really helped me to reflect. The information was powerful and I am will be doing a mini PD at my school to share some my take aways.

Everything! The keynote speakers were amazing and soooooo inspirational! The sessions and subsessions were extremely well planned. I loved every moment!!!

Enjoyed the presentations and meeting with the exhibitor. Learned a lot and made lots of contacts to learn from each other.

It was an amazing conference to attend even virtually.The student volunteer helpers were very professional and eager to participate in sessions.I learned a lot about how a culture unlike mine approaches inclusivity

Loved it!
I loved the parent panel, student panel, a MIX of workshops teaching the philosophical underpinnings of our practice and workshops that offered practical tools to implement.

The pre-conference with Jon was the best, that was enough information to go home with.
Of course the other 2 days were great!

Impeccably and creatively crganized conference! Valuable information shared and excellent choice of speakers. Wonderful, welcoming and caring community. I enjoyed my time and felt like part of the family.

Wonderful and thoughtfully planned sessions. It’s great to be a part of a community that cares so much about all of our students! Plus, awesome and plentiful food options 🙂

As a specialist teacher (PE teacher), what are some ways that we could specifically market this conference to other specialist teachers (e.g., Art, Music, Language, PE, etc.) so they know that the content is relevant for them, too?

This was my first in person SENIA conference and I loved the experience! It was a very smooth conference, very well organised. Loved the student and parent panel! It was wonderful to connect with like minded people in person and via the Whova app. I felt happy, energised and touched at times. My experience of presenting too was smooth and a lot of fun. Thanks for all your work!

Connecting with colleagues, parent and student panel

We brought our entire student support team and were able to go to different sessions and then come back together to have meaningful conversations. We were able to implement a few things immediately from returning from the conference.

The food was delicious and plentiful, the raffle was so much fun, a warm atmosphere was ever present, and this has to do with the organisers .

Such a great connection of people! So many useful tips and resources.

I really loved the panels, we get so busy as practitioners that we can forget that what we do impacts more than just the student we work with

it is meaningful when LS/ELL and Classroom teacher attends these together/ share and implement strategies “while the iron is still hot!”

The conference itself was great. Meeting so many professionals was fantastic! We are not alone!

Most presentations were inspiring but these stood out for me; Beyond co-teaching:Building a culture of collaboration to support diverse learners,Designing student support department/programs, Listening to students voices, Creating a life centred Education classroom and Culturally Responsive Partnership with Students’ Families. In addition, I enjoyed Student and Parent Panels. Sharing their personal experiences was so insightful.

Thank SENIA for the wonderful work. These conferences are great! Would you please try to encourage leaders from member schools to attend? They have the power to implement this great stuff.

It was great connecting with likeminded professionals. I was able to choose a pathway that suited my professionally needs.

The variety of sessions was valuable. Highlights were the panels – for children, parents and spaces to share reflections with professionals.