Queen’s Birthday Honours List includes JISC TechDis friends and partners

Overview

The Queens’ Birthday Honours List was published on 18 June and here at JISC TechDis we were thrilled to see so many familiar names included.

In addition to over 100 educationalists, there were also a number of disability and technology champions that we wish to acknowledge and celebrate.

Our congratulations go to Mike Adams, the Chief Executive of the Essex Coalition of Disabled People, who has been awarded an OBE. Mike was on the JISC TechDis Board for many years and has been a welcome and vociferous supporter of JISC TechDis promoting our services across higher education. Mike Adams co-authored ‘Towards Inclusive Learning in Higher Education: Improving Classroom Practice and Developing Inclusive Curricula’ which remains one of the most important texts in this field.

We were also happy to see Andy Minnion of the Rix Centre on the honours list for an MBE. Andy has worked with JISC TechDis for many years and was part of the award winning In-Folio Implementation Team. Andy continues to work with us on the TechDis Ambassadors programme where we recognise and celebrate disabled learners innovative and inspirational use of technology. We will be launching the Ambassadors programme later this year.

There are too many others who received accolades to list here but some of especial note that reflect different aspects of our work are:

• Lesley-Anne Alexander (Chief Executive of RNIB) who received a CBE for services to the voluntary sector.
• Christopher David Morecroft, former adviser and former principal of Worcester College of Technology, who received an OBE for services to further education.
• Dr Mike Short, O2 and president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), has received a CBE for services to the mobile communications industry.

Sal Cooke, Director of JISC TechDis says, “It is both reassuring and exciting to see so many friends of JISC TechDis receiving honours for their contributions to inclusion, disability awareness, education and technology. Mike Adams and Andy Minnion are very dedicated; they work tirelessly and selflessly and it is wonderful that their contributions have been publicly recognised in this way.”