Call for papers and registration of lecturers

International Days of Linguistic Accessibility seminar

16.-17.5.2024, Helsinki, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences

Welcome to the IDLA –seminar organized by Diak UAS and Humak UAS!

The seminar is arranged under the theme of Languages, Communication and Wellbeing. Scholars from different fields of research gather together in order to reflect on different perspectives on our main topic and how we can improve our communication skills and linguistic accessibility in order to improve wellbeing in different fields.

We call for presentations which can focus for example on 

  • language and identity
  • usage of the mother tongue as a factor of wellbeing
  • wellbeing and multilingualism
  • accessible communication in relation to wellbeing
  • easy language and easy signing as methods for fostering inclusion
  • linguistic rights and inclusion
  • wellbeing of children and young people from the language perspective
  • augmentative and alternative methods and inclusion
  • linguistic equality in wellbeing services counties
  • linguistic accessibility in the public service
  • client encounters and communication in social and healthcare services
  • usage of the mother tongue in (public) services
  • wellbeing at work from the perspective of linguistic equality
  • linguistic diversity and wellbeing
  • realization of linguistic right in society
  • diversity and usage of languages in society
  • linguistic inclusion at work
  • linguistic awareness in the working community
  • the meaning of linguistic accessibility in diverse and multilingual working communities
  • emotional intelligence and wellbeing at work
  • how to increase understanding between two parts that use the same language
  • the impact of linguistic equality on wellbeing at work
  • encounter skills in the work community in relation to wellbeing at work
  • increasing the client’s wellbeing by using linguistic methods
  • understanding and being understood as factors of wellbeing
  • quality of interpreting and the client’s wellbeing
  • linguistic accessibility and technology as factors of wellbeing
  • online interpreting and wellbeing
  • the interpreter’s working duties and her/his wellbeing
  • the interpreter’s work security and her/his wellbeing
  • the wellbeing of interpreting entrepreneurs

We are, of course, also open for other point of views and suggestions that fit our topic Linguistic Accessibility, Communication and Wellbeing.

The working languages of the seminar are English and international signing. After the seminar, all presenters are invited to submit their papers to the Humak/IDLA-publication, which is an open access publication. The book will be published in spring 2025.

All presenters may contribute with a presentation (25 minutes) or a workshop presentation (60 min). If you choose to give a presentation, we ask you to integrate and activate the audience by offering communicational elements, e.g. short discussions etc. You can give your presentation or workshop face to face or online.

As for section presentations, please submit your abstract (max. 1500 signs + possible list of references) to lena.segler-heikkila@diak.fi as an attachment (in docx format) by February 15th, 2024. In the message, please mention your contact information. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by February 15th, 2024. 

Registration 

Presenters should register for the seminar electronically by February 15th, 2024. The participation for presenters is free and includes the seminar program, coffee on both days and lunch on day 2.

Please register here by February 15th, 2024 

Information on other practical matters will be updated on the seminar website during the winter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the seminar organizers:

Lena Segler-Heikkilä, tel. +358 50 4108772, e-mail lena.segler-heikkila@diak.fi  

Zita Kóbor-Laitinen, tel. +358 50 4119597, e-mail zita.kobor-laitinen@humak.fi