You Need
Dates: 14th - 16th January 2009
Venue: Olympia Hilton, Kensington, London
Opening times: 9.30am - 5.00pm
The Special Needs Fringe focuses on computers and special needs, a field increasingly called "Assistive Technology". Running next door to the gigantic BETT show, it offers a more intimate and specialist atmosphere and (particularly important) free refreshments and somewhere to sit and chat with colleagues.
Special Children is the official media partner of the Special Needs Fringe.
Fringe Events
The Fringe has a whole range of seminar sessions where you can
find out more about using technology to support learners with
special needs.
Read a review of the Special Needs Fringe 2008
Two minutes away is all of the bustle
of the more mainstream BETT 2009 where 25,000 teachers will visit 500
exhibition stands. The Special Needs Fringe has less than 30
stands, but includes the big names in Special Needs and the more
specialist Assistive Technology companies. As part of this
exhibition each of these companies presents their own seminars in
the conference rooms of the Olympia Hilton.
The exhibition is deliberately planned to give busy special
educators the chance to visit both shows. The Fringe opens at
9:30am, half an hour before BETT, so that you can enjoy a free
cup of tea and a chat rather than queue for BETT. The Fringe
closes at five, an hour before BETT, so that teachers can focus
on BETT at its quietest time. Unlike BETT, the Fringe is not open
on Saturday.
This is the
ninth year of the Special Needs Fringe. For the first two years
Inclusive Technology had the excellent facilities of the Olympia
Hilton to themselves. This was a huge success and other
exhibitors asked to join them just as the hotel's ballroom
complex became available. This wonderful exhibition space filled
quickly, was extended, and filled again. The event was a huge
success and has continued to go from strength to strength.
EMAP, the organizers of BETT, may not
have immediately taken to the idea of two exhibitions. But
special educators will certainly benefit from the competition,
and from access to more specialist exhibitors who would not have
exhibited at BETT. If special needs teachers are getting more
from their day, both exhibitions will draw strength and
thrive.
If you can't find the information you are looking for about the Special Needs Fringe 2009 please call 0800 975 6090 or 01457 819790. If you are an exhibitor please see our information for exhibitors page.
Special Children, published by Optimus Education, is the official media partner of the Special Needs Fringe: www.teachingexpertise.com