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Conference Chair and Facilitators

Black Labrador dog wearing blue assistance vest

Lindsay O'Dell, wearing glasses and looking at the camera

Professor Lindsay O’Dell – Conference Chair

Lindsay O’Dell is Professor of Critical Developmental Psychology and Director of The Open University’s Graduate School. Her research interests focus on children, young people and families who are seen to be, or who see themselves, as in some way ‘different’. Her projects have particularly been informed by critical disability and critical developmental psychological perspectives to consider a range of significant issues around disability, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions. Lindsay is also academic lead for the Next Generation workstream within the University’s Research Plan. The intention of Next Generation is to explore how to support diverse researchers at The Open University to thrive equitably. The conference is a significant part of the Plan.

Grainne O'Connor, wearing glasses, looking at the camera

Dr Gráinne O'Connor - Facilitator

Gráinne is currently working as a research assistant in the Faculty of Well Being, Education and Language Studies at The Open University. Having worked in the field of health and social care for over thirty years in both hospital and community health care settings, Gráinne changed direction to undertake her PhD with The Open University researching the lived experiences of people with long term health conditions who use assistance dogs (highly trained dogs who assist people with a range of physical impairments and mental health conditions). This research interest developed out of personal experience of becoming disabled as an adult and allowed Gráinne to develop insights and experience of navigating academia as a post graduate researcher (PGR) living with a disability. After gaining her PhD in 2021, Gráinne has worked on numerous projects in the field of health and social care, most recently working with Professor Lindsay O'Dell and colleagues researching the experiences of PGRS with D/disabilities, long term health conditions and learning differences/neurodivergence and the supervisors who support them.

Rachael Luck

Dr Rachael Luck – Facilitator

Rachael Luck is a chartered architect and design researcher, with research interests in the inclusive design of products, services, environments and systems that promote disability-inclusion. Her research has been funded by the European Research Council, Economic and Soical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.