Tag: Dr. Maureen Dunne

Dr. Maureen Dunne Featured as NA 2024 Keynote Speaker at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day

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Apr 2, 2024

NEW YORK, April 2, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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Autism Community Ventures (“ACV”), a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations and a mission to drive social, economic, and financial inclusion among neurodivergent or neurodistinct jobseekers, is pleased to announce that Dr. Maureen Dunne is the 2024 Keynote Speaker at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day, representing the continent of North America and the Caribbean.

The theme of the UN event and Dr. Dunne’s keynote is “Moving from Surviving to Thriving.” Watch Dr. Dunne’s keynote on the United Nations broadcast TV and on-demand YouTube channel here: (Part 3) Autism Awareness Day – The Americas: Moving from Surviving to Thriving | United Nations (youtube.com).

Dr. Dunne founded Autism Community Ventures and is the author of the national bestselling book The Neurodiversity Edge.

Full details about the global event can be found on the United Nations website: World Autism Awareness Day – EN | United Nations.

Source: Autism Community Ventures

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April 2, 2024
ICCTA Inspires Illinois General Assembly Legislation HR 219 ‘Neurodiversity in Higher Ed’

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Resolution encourages inclusivity and the adoption of ICCTA’s Neurodiversity Inclusion statement at all educational institutions.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 21, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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The Illinois Community College Trustees Association (“ICCTA”), a state legislative advocacy and trustee education organization that represents 48 member colleges serving over 700,000 students, is proud to announce that legislation inspired by the work of the association and spearheaded by ICCTA President Dr. Maureen Dunne has resulted in the passage of HR 219 “Neurodiversity in Higher Ed”.

For more information, consult the Regular Session Legislation information site for the 103^rd Illinois General Assembly at www.ilga.gov/legislation.

HR 219 was inspired by the Neurodiversity Inclusion Statement adopted by the ICCTA at its Board of Representatives meeting in Springfield in Fall 2022 to serve as guidance for its member colleges and trustees throughout Illinois. HR 219 garnered bipartisan support and was sponsored by Representatives Terra Costa Howard, Norine K. Hammond, Katie Stuart, Jonathan Carroll, Diane Blair-Sherlock, Robert “Bob” Rita, and Sharon Chung.

ICCTA President, Dr. Maureen Dunne, expressed her satisfaction with the legislation. “This is a landmark achievement for neurodiversity advocates. I am very grateful to everyone who has helped to support this effort and to the sponsors of HR 219 in the Illinois General Assembly.”

Dr. Dunne has been a strong advocate for neurodiversity inclusion for many years. She is also a globally recognized expert in the field of neurodiversity who has worked closely with many public and private organizations to promote authentic inclusion. Dunne is partnering with global publishing giant Wiley on upcoming books related to this theme and frequently travels to conferences nationally and internationally as a keynote speaker.

Dunne remarked, “The passage of HR 219 will further spread the important message that neurodiversity-friendly policies should be a priority, especially at community colleges as a large percentage of neurodivergent students entering higher education start their journey at community colleges. Retention, persistence, and completion rates for these students are not what they should be and inclusion statements like this can inspire real change from all levels of an organization.”

Dr. Dunne also recently launched a petition to express public support for neurodiversity inclusion in higher education.

Jim Reed, Executive Director of ICCTA, added, “The passage of this legislation builds on the momentum we have achieved this year at ICCTA in supporting policies that promote equitable participation for all students. We have already seen several colleges around the state of Illinois adopt ICCTA’s neurodiversity inclusion statement, including Rend Lake CC, College of DuPage, and others. And we look forward to seeing that number grow.”

Prior press release: ICCTA Adopts Neurodiversity Inclusion Statement at Board of (globenewswire.com)

Source: Illinois Community College Trustees Association

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May 21, 2023
Dr. Maureen Dunne Invited as Keynote Speaker at Global Education Summit in Panama

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Feb 13, 2023 20:00 CST

CHICAGO, February 13, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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Autism Community Ventures is proud to report that Dr. Maureen Dunne will appear as a keynote speaker at the upcoming Global Early Education Summit (“GEES”), which will take place April 14-15, 2023, in Panama City, Panama.

The Summit theme is “Preparing Children for an Unknown Future.” Click here for more details and to register for the Summit: Event | Global Early Education Summit | Panama (geesummit.com).

The GEES is the very first global education summit based in Latin America to bring together the world’s top minds to discuss how leaders must adapt to a rapidly changing world to best prepare children, teachers, students, and professionals for an uncertain future.

GEES aims to provide an atmosphere for provoking thoughtful discourse and a global conversation as the world prepares for a future marked by rapid economic, technological, and social change. The Summit will also serve as an incubator for professional training, networking, and other opportunities.

Dr. Dunne will speak about educational leadership in navigating an uncertain and evolving context. A key focus will be on the important role neurodivergent children and non-linear problem solvers may play in our collective future.

“We live in a world increasingly defined by accelerating change,” remarked Dunne. “This has enormous implications for how we approach education. The corner is getting closer, sharper, and more difficult to see around. How we handle cognitive diversity and universal design in early education stands to become one of our most pressing questions in shaping the world we live in decades from now.”

Other renowned educators who will appear as key speakers at the Summit include Dr. Flossie Chua, Principal Investigator of Project Zero, Harvard University; Professor Nissim Ben-Arie at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Dr. Americo Amorim, a New York University scholar, among other leading scholars and professionals.

In March, Dr. Dunne will also appear as an invited Plenary Speaker on broader topics related to the Evolving Role of Community Colleges and Higher Education at the National Council for Continuing Education and Training (NCCET) Annual Conference, held this year in Nashville, Tennessee. A panel discussion, moderated by NCCET board member Dr. Joseph Cassidy, will take place on March 2 with Dr. Dunne, Dr. Corbin (NACCE), and Joel Vargas (Jobs for the Future).

Source: Autism Community Ventures

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February 13, 2023
ICCTA Adopts Neurodiversity Inclusion Statement at Board of Representatives Meeting

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ICCTA is the first state education advocacy association to adopt such a statement to influence policy

Press Release
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Nov 21, 2022 20:15 CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., November 21, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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The Illinois Community College Trustees Association (the “ICCTA“), a state legislative advocacy and trustee education organization that represents 48 member colleges serving over 700,000 students, is proud to announce that it has adopted a Neurodiversity Inclusion Statement to serve as guidance for its member colleges and trustees around the state of Illinois.

Under the leadership of ICCTA President Dr. Maureen Dunne and Diversity Committee Chair Torrie Newsome, ICCTA adopted the following Statement at its recent board of representatives meeting in Springfield, Illinois:

“The Board of Representatives, administration, and staff of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association recognize that neurodiversity among the students, faculty, staff, trustees, and administrative teams of our member colleges is critical to enhancing the educational experience for our students and providing for a more inclusive learning and operating environment, providing public benefits for our communities. We believe that, when neurodivergent people are understood, valued, and empowered, we all stand to benefit from their important and unique contributions. This resolution represents our commitment to promoting an authentically inclusive learning environment in alignment with this ideal.”

The resolution continues to note that neurodiversity is a strength-based lens through which to understand conditions such as autism, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, seeing them as differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits as part of the normal variation in the human population.

“The majority of neurodivergent students begin their higher education journey at community colleges, and it is critical that we, as community college leaders, celebrate difference and the many strengths neurodivergent students bring to our colleges and communities,” remarked Dr. Dunne. “The neurodiversity paradigm embraces a strength-based perspective, and it’s important that our higher education system embraces that paradigm as well so that we can help all students reach their full potential. I am proud that ICCTA is blazing the trail as the first state-wide education organization to take this step, and, from conversations with trustees and presidents around the country, I believe many more will follow.”

As ICCTA President, Dr. Dunne’s vision includes a focus on neurodiversity inclusion, future of work, and closer industry partnerships with the community college system. As a leading voice in the neurodiversity movement, Dr. Dunne regularly speaks on these topics, including as a keynote speaker at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and as an invited speaker at The Atlantic Festival, which included neurodiversity as part of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion focus.

“ICCTA’s bold statement on neurodiversity builds on our commitment to promote policies that support equitable participation and achievement for all students,” said ICCTA Executive Director Jim Reed, Jr. “We are pleased that other higher education entities — such as the College of DuPage and Oakton Community College here in Illinois — are adopting similar statements and revising their policies to enhance the learning experiences of neurodivergent students.”

Source: ICCTA

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November 21, 2022
Dr. Maureen Dunne Featured as Keynote Speaker at the 2022 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit

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Dunne featured last month at The Atlantic Festival in D.C. on similar themes and topics related to neurodiversity inclusion

Press Release
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Oct 26, 2022

CHICAGO, October 26, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Autism Community Ventures (“ACV”), a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations and a mission to drive social, economic, and financial inclusion among neurodiverse jobseekers, is pleased to announce that its founder and neurodiversity expert Dr. Maureen Dunne was featured this week as a keynote speaker at the 2022 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit (the “Summit”), which took place virtually from Oct. 23-25.

Dr. Dunne’s keynote presentation, “Investing in Neurodiversity to Build a More Inclusive Future”, centered on the importance of innovation and investment in neurodiversity inclusion through private sector projects and funding, as well as the critical role neurodiversity will play in driving organizational performance and social progress in the years ahead. Dunne’s experience as senior neurodiversity expert for the LEGO Foundation’s $20 million Play For All Accelerator Fund, which launched earlier this year, was highlighted. Her presentation also offered an original framework for models of authentic inclusion.

The presentation will be available for on-demand viewing in the near future. More information can be found at the Summit’s website.

Dunne also moderated a panel at the Summit to introduce entrepreneurship as a vital opportunity pathway to meaningful employment among the neurodiverse community. Panelists included business leaders selected for sponsorship as part of the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program, which was formed earlier this year through a partnership between Innovation DuPage (ID) and Autism Angels Group (AAG) to provide ongoing support to neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

The Stanford event follows Dr. Dunne’s participation as an invited speaker at The Atlantic Festival 2022 (the “Festival”), which took place at the Wharf in Washington D.C. in September. Dunne was invited by The Atlantic as a key speaker as the Festival addressed the topic of neurodiversity within the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion segment for the first time in its history. The session was moderated by celebrated journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Donvan who authored the New York Times bestseller, “In a Different Key: The Story of Autism.”

About Autism Community Ventures
Autism Community Ventures is a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations and a mission to drive social, economic, and financial inclusion.

Source: Autism Community Ventures PBC

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October 26, 2022
Innovation DuPage Launches New Program for Neurodivergent Founders in Partnership With the Autism Angels Group
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Sep 16, 2022
GLEN ELLYN, Ill., September 16, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Business incubator and accelerator Innovation DuPage (ID) has partnered with Autism Angels Group (AAG) to provide ongoing support to neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

The mission of the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program (NDEP) is to increase business leadership opportunities for people with developmental and/or cognitive differences such as autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and other related diagnoses. Companies with neurodivergent leaders serve as role models for future entrepreneurs while illustrating that neurodiversity can be a strength. NDEP celebrates and invests in the success of startups and small companies that have neurodivergent leaders in C-Suite roles (e.g., CEO, CFO, Directors, founders, or cofounders).

Innovation DuPage, a nonprofit venture and business startup incubator affiliated with College of DuPage, has partnered with Autism Angels Group, the world’s first neurodiversity social impact investment association, and the Transition2Success Project, creator of a proprietary evidenced-based wrap-around support model and inclusion training program that has been shown to help neurodivergent individuals thrive at key life transition points. The three organizations have come together to fund, offer, and host NDEP to drive success among neurodivergent entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders.

“NDEP is about showing how cognitive differences can drive organizational success in new business ventures,” stated Joe Cassidy, Innovation DuPage President and Chair. “Along with our partners, we are committed to powering innovation and expanding the frontiers of emerging industries. This program is a perfect example of that commitment as well as our commitment to embracing diversity and inclusion in all its forms.”

After a competitive selection process, Wove LLC and DaniMation Entertainment were chosen as the first two companies to participate in the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program:
- DaniMation Educates, Elevates, and Empowers transitioning youth on the autism spectrum by providing animation programs to turn their animation passion into a career. (https://danimationentertainment.com)
- Wove LLC manufactures premium bicycle parts with a focus on innovation and performance. (https://wovebike.com/ )
Companies selected to be a part of NDEP received:
- A $4,000 microgrant from Autism Angels Group
- Access to Transition2Success Project’s T2S-Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Support Model™ ($5,000 value)
- Innovation DuPage MVP Membership ($2,700 value)
“NDEP is a first-of-its-kind incubator partnership model that is paving new opportunity pathways to support neurodivergent leaders through entrepreneurship,” remarked Dr. Maureen Dunne, Chair of College of DuPage Board of Trustees. “Throughout history, many of our most iconic entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and innovators were neurodivergent thinkers. Initiatives like the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program are essential to the task of weeding out unproductive biases so we can all benefit from the talents and creativity of different kinds of minds.”

Dr. Dunne will be a Keynote Speaker at the 2022 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and will be highlighting the importance of investing in neurodiversity innovation and inclusion. This year’s NDEP-selected companies, DaniMation and Wove LLC, will present on a separate panel on Entrepreneurship, moderated by Dr. Dunne. The Stanford Neurodiversity Summit will take place virtually from Oct. 23-25, 2022. Over 5,000 global attendees were registered at last year’s Summit, where the Neurodiversity Entrepreneur Program was first announced.

About Innovation DuPage
Innovation DuPage (ID) is a nonprofit venture that unites startup founders and small business owners with the people, resources and programs that support their growth. Members collaborate across an extensive network of enterprise, academic, economic development and research partners. Through its four primary development programs, ID supports the startup community, enhances regional prosperity, attracts world-class talent, and drives sustainable economic growth.

Since its founding, ID has served hundreds of entrepreneurs residing in DuPage County. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently awarded Innovation DuPage the 2021 Award of Excellence for Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership for its demonstrated success in advancing economic prosperity in the greater community. For the past three consecutive years, members of Innovation DuPage have won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from The Daily Herald.

About Autism Angels Group
The mission of the Autism Angels Group is to bring together capital and talent to aggressively drive economic opportunities and technology-driven solutions that create a positive social impact for the autism community. AAG welcomes partnerships with individuals, organizations and institutions that wish to join in investing in people, private markets and for-profit enterprises that seek to include and empower those on the autism spectrum. AAG’s nonprofit arm awards microgrants to entrepreneurs with fiscal sponsorship under the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).

Contacts:

Dan Facchini, Managing Director, Innovation DuPage
idfacchinid@innovationdupage.org

Elyse Benjamin, Autism Angels Group

info@autismangelsgroup.com

Source: Autism Angels Group
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September 16, 2022
Inclusive Coding Academy Launches First Strength-Based Transcript and 21st Century Skills Certificate

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Press Release
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updated: Nov 1, 2020

CHICAGO, November 1, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Inclusive Coding Academy (“ICA”), an organization that offers diverse 21st century skill-building workshops and coding bootcamps, is excited to announce the formal launch of a proprietary strength-based certificate and transcript offering. In partnership with Autism Community Ventures and private donor networks, ICA’s previous bootcamps have incorporated a strength-based assessment process. That process is now being formalized as part of a unique evaluation and certificate offering.

President and CEO, Maureen Dunne, Ph.D., a former National Science Foundation Research Fellow and Rhodes Scholar, remarked, “The Academy is unique in that it not only offers an inclusive space to learn from renowned instructors and faculty, but offerings tailored to closing the historically wide gap between 21st century skills demanded by employers and the skills prospective jobseekers are bringing to the table. Another aspect unique to our programs is that each project team embraces the power of neurodiversity and includes at least one neurodivergent individual.”

Many of ICA’s programs embrace project-based learning with themes meaningful to the students. The online “Introduction to Web Design Course” kicked off this past weekend, and the students brainstormed several ideas for their final group project together. In the end, they decided to build a website for a nonprofit initiative called “The Spectrum PPE Project”, founded and led by Dr. Dunne. Spectrum PPE designs and distributes sensory friendly Personal Protection Equipment for neurodivergent children and adults. Some volunteers for the project previously learned 3D printing skills in a prior workshop sponsored by ICA.

Students who sign up for a course, coding bootcamp, or collection of workshops all receive not only a certificate of completion but also a strength-based transcript that they can show employers to demonstrate both their strengths and the skills they have mastered. No grades are provided. Instead, students are both highly encouraged and expected to deepen their collaboration, problem solving, team building, and communication skills – so-called “soft skills” that are increasingly important in the 21st century economy.

A prior participant of an inclusive “Introduction to Coding Games” workshop was a talented, young adult with autism who had been unemployed for years after graduating high school. He never attempted college as he was discouraged after so many rejections from employers. In the grant funded workshop, this participant excelled, quickly mastering Unity, a popular platform for coding 3D games. He even completed his independent game project an entire hour ahead of any other student at the event and won the workshop’s Grand Prize for Best Student Game at the associated Hackathon. The experience helped this student appreciate his many talents and the wider opportunity pathways, including higher education, that may be available to him in the future.

As part of the strength-based skills transcript, Dr. Dunne also includes written evaluation comments, highlighting key strengths exhibited and skills mastered within the context of a system developed over many years of research.

“Some bootcamp teams may decide to build a startup company after the program,” Dunne added. Dunne is also the co-founder and Managing Partner of the Autism Angels Group (the “AAG”), an organization helping to foster the formation and success of businesses promoting Neurodiversity. “The AAG investor network is interested in receiving pitches for such pre-accelerator projects, assuming they spin out into a startup company and meet our criteria with a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) and evidence of early traction. The fact that all of these project teams include at least one neurodiverse student and that ICA seems to attract a lot of students interested in entrepreneurship also make the program a natural partner for AAG as well as later stage social impact funds.”

Upcoming workshops include Introduction to Rapid Prototyping, Introduction to 3D Printing, Intro to Python, Machine Learning and Society and additional sections for the Intro to Web Design Course.

Media Contact:
Alexander Richards
Email: info@inclusivecodingacademy.com

Source: Inclusive Coding Academy

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October 31, 2020