Culture & Society: None of us are "normal:" How to address neurodiversity in digital entertainment education
Allie Weis (USA/Belgium)
Allie Weis is the Ethics Coordinator in International Game Development and Internships Coordinator at Howest Digital Arts and Entertainment (DAE) in Kortrijk, Belgium. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Allie received a Fulbright grant and relocated to Belgium. While working at Howest DAE, she discovered the overlaps between her background in ethics and psychology and digital entertainment.
She served as a Community Manager before transitioning into her current position of Ethics Coordinator and producer of the ‘Game for Thought’ video series, tackling a different ethically-relevant topic each month. Allie has worked together with students to cultivate a Code of Conduct for the student community, highlighting the relevance and importance of ethics. She also works with affinity groups on campus and teaches a course for all first-year students called ‘Career Skills,’ surrounding critical topics of personal and professional development. She is also responsible for student internships.
Join Allie Weis for an engaging talk on neurodiversity within games education, with a focus on higher education. Drawing on insights from conversations with industry experts, education professionals, and her own experience working with neurodivergent students, this session will explore the unique strengths and challenges that neurodiverse learners (and professionals) bring to the field.
Attendees will gain practical strategies for fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments, with a focus on flexible teaching and advocating for oneself and others, with the goal of enriching both educational settings and the digital entertainment industry.