Global Collaboration Sets New Benchmark for Inclusive Education and Employment

 In a landmark virtual gathering that spanned continents and time zones, the International Conference on Bridging Employment and Inclusive Education/TVET successfully convened on Saturday December 6, 2025, uniting 992 registered participants from across the globe. The event, which commenced at 10:00 AM GMT from its Ghanaian epicenter, showcased a powerful collective commitment to transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for learners with autism/intellectual and developmental abilities.

Organized by the Duperon Learning Center for Children with Special Needs, Ghana, in collaboration with a formidable international consortium including Duperon Education (USA), Saginaw Valley State University (USA), the BmS Foundation (Ghana), and Hudson Valley Community College’s Uniquely Abled Academy (USA), Academic experts from University of Education, Winneba (Ghana), University of Cape Coast (Ghana), University of Ghana, Legon, University for Development Studies (Ghana), University of Professional Studies, Accra (Ghana), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and Institutional collaborators such as Midland County Education Service Agency, USA, Wuhan Institute of Technology, China, Advocacy & Non-Profit Partners: PARCLife, USA, Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association, USA, Rans Consulting and Advocacy LLC, USA, Families and Children Together, USA, Heart of the City Development Center, USA, Grateful Love Foundation, USA, Awaawaa2, Ghana, Kyemen Baby Online, Ghana, the conference demonstrated a unique model of North-South and cross-sector partnership.

Under the leadership of Convener and Host Dr. Priscilla Amanorkuor Dseagu, Founder of Duperon Learning Center and Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, the event was expertly steered by Co-Hosts Cindy Seitz (President, Duperon Education, USA), Mr. Bernard Lomotey Agbloe (CEO, BMS Foundation, Ghana), and Harriet Swanzy Baffoe (Post Masters Clinical Fellow, MUCC, USA).

A Truly Global Dialogue
The conference schedule underscored its worldwide reach, with participants joining at 1:00 PM in Kenya and Ethiopia, 6:00 PM in China, 5:00 AM in New York and Toronto, and 8:00 PM in Sydney, among others. This global cadence facilitated a rich exchange of perspectives from educators, policymakers, advocates, and parents.
The intellectual foundation of the discussions was the DiversSimilarity Paradigm, a conceptual framework propounded by Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa, the Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Chair at Saginaw Valley State University, USA, who also served as the Lead Conference Consultant, Distinguished Special Guest and Keynote Speaker.

Structure and Substance
The purpose and vision for the gathering were powerfully articulated in the opening statement delivered by Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa (Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Chair, Saginaw Valley State University, USA). After the opening statement Dr. Priscilla Amanorkuor Dseagu presented her opening address as the Conference Convener. She pointed out that the conference sought promote education, transition planning and employment of people with Autism/IDD and other disabilities.

The conference commenced with a plenary opening ceremony, featuring distinguished special guests including Mr. Terry Duperon, Board Chair/Founder of the Duperon Cooperation (USA), Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba and Prof. James Tarr, Dean of the College of Education, SVSU, Prof. Patricia Mawusi Amos, Dean, Faculty of Applied Behavioural Sciences in Education, UEW, Dawn Danner, Director, Uniquely Abled Academy, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) and Prof. Fang Hao, Wuhan Institute of Technology. To ensure accessibility for the conference attendees, the universal design for learning (UDL) was implemented through the use of sign language interpretation, live written transcripts, visual and audio supports, enabling full participation during the virtual conference.

Following the opening, the nearly one thousand participants engaged in focused deliberations across six simultaneous breakout rooms, guided by an esteemed assembly of over 50 keynote speakers, think-tank panelists, and moderators.

This faculty included:
From Saginaw Valley State University, USA: Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa, Prof. Dawn Hinton, Prof. James Tarr, Prof. Debra Lively, Dr. Jennifer Ward, Dr. Julie Brehmer, and Dr. Holly Long.
International and Industry Experts: Dr. Christine Rans (Rans Consulting and Advocacy, USA), Dr. Mari MacFarland (ParcLifeNow, USA), Victoria Norris (Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association, USA), Dawn Danner (Uniquely Abled Academy, HVCC, USA), Prof. Fang Hao (Wuhan Institute of Technology, China), John Searles and Jennifer Coston (Midland County Education Service Agency, USA), Terricina Jackson (Families and Children Together (USA), Shotorah Carter (Grateful Love Foundation) and Cherie Long (Heart of the City Development Center).

Prominent Scholars from Ghanaian Universities:
University of Education, Winneba: Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Prof. Patricia Mawusi Amos, Prof. Samuel Hayford, Prof. Yaw Nyadu Offei, Prof. Michael Subbey, Dr. Emmanuel Acheampong, Dr. Florence Mensah, Dr. Daniel Fobi, Dr. Adam Awini, Mr. Francis Anku, Dr. Frank Twum, Dr. Elizabeth Lani Ashong, Dr. Sesi Collins Akotey.
University of Cape Coast: Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah, Prof. Irene Vanderpuye, and Dr. Martha Pearl Okai.

University of Ghana, Legon: Dr. Abraham Okrah, Dr. Emmanuel Adjei Boateng, and Speech Therapist Josephine Ohenewa Bampoe.
University for Development Studies: Dr. Isaac Nyame.

University of Professional Studies, Accra: Dr. Joshua Ofori Essiam
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration: Grace Abban- Ampiah.

The conference highlighted groundbreaking initiatives like the Uniquely Abled Academy model, presented by Dawn Danner, which focuses on creating inclusive career opportunities in aerospace CNC machinists for the neurodiverse community. The Uniquely Abled Academy is a first-of-its-kind program designed to train, support, and provide job placement services to create inclusive career opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. The conference also included experts such as and Nana Akua Victoria Owusu of Awaawaa2, Ghana, Clinical Health Psychologists, Eliza Ampofo and Elizabeth Ampofo as well as Educator Emmanuella Mintah Agyeman and Nutritionist Dr. Wilhemina Mensah of Kyemen Baby Online.

Three core panel sessions drove up the agenda:

Education and Training: Exploring innovative pedagogical approaches and inclusive TVET curricula.
Transition and Employment/Parent Advocacy: Promoting transitioning approaches and inclusive employment as well as amplifying the crucial voice of families in shaping inclusive pathways.
Think Tank Panel: Strategizing systemic change and policy development for sustainable employment outcomes.

The conference highlighted groundbreaking initiatives like the Uniquely Abled Academy model, presented by Dawn Danner, which focuses on training and creating inclusive career opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum as CNC operators in advanced manufacturing fields.

A Coalition for Change
The conference boasted an unprecedented assembly of expertise, with over 50 keynote speakers, think-tank panelists, and moderators. Prominent contributors included Prof. Fang Hao (Wuhan Institute of Technology, China), John Searles (Superintendent, MCESA, USA), Prof. Patricia Mawusi Amos (Dean, UEW), and advocates like Dr. Christine Rans (USA) and Nana Akua Victoria Owusu of Awaawaa2. Parent advocates such as Cynthia Camburn, Freda Sarpong, Alberta Ofori- Dankwa, Terricina Jackson, Irene Wallace, Shortorah Carter and Cherie Long also shared parent home skills management approaches used in supporting their children on the autism spectrum.

From Theory to Practice: The Virtual Exhibition
A highlight of the day was a vibrant virtual exhibition, moving the discourse from theory to tangible outcomes. The showcase, led by Dr. Benjamin Oduro Arhin, featured an impressive array of products—including bracelets, sandals, doormats, and beaded souvenirs—crafted by students with disabilities at the Duperon Learning Center. This segment powerfully illustrated the vocational skills, creativity, and economic potential being unlocked through inclusive education.

The technical execution was managed by a dedicated team stationed at the Duperon Center office in Accra and expertly displayed by Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin Jnr as the conference implementation consultant, ensuring seamless connectivity for the global audience.

This worldwide cadence facilitated a rich, 6-hour exchange of ideas, embodying the spirit that “the world is not a burden carried by one neck.” The conference then moved to its formal conclusion. The closing ceremony address was delivered by Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa, who commended the historic collaboration and its potential impact on policy and practice. This was followed by closing remarks from Mrs Cindy Seitz (President, Duperon Education) and Dr. Samuel Dseagu, Co-Director of the Duperon Center for Children with Special Needs, who reflected on the center’s mission and the journey ahead.

Finally, the Convener, Dr. Priscilla Amanorkuor Dseagu, offered a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing profound gratitude to all partners, speakers, technical teams, and participants for their contributions to a seamless and impactful dialogue. The landmark conference successfully concluded at 3:00 PM GMT, having established a dynamic and actionable global network dedicated to bridging inclusive education with dignified employment.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Dseagu emphasized the conference’s core mission: “Today, we have not just shared ideas; we have fortified a global network dedicated to actionable strategies. Our goal is irrevocable: to bridge the gap between inclusive education and meaningful, dignified employment for all individuals, regardless of ability. This is only the beginning.”

The conference has laid a robust foundation for continued international collaboration, setting a new benchmark for dialogue and action in the field of inclusive TVET and employment.