CDLD Unit Research Group

What does our research tell us about Williams syndrome?

We’ve chosen 5 evidence-based facts relating to cognitive and behavioural development, and education!

Read on to explore each fact and help spread awareness this ❤️

📅 Save the Date! 💙

International Williams Syndrome Awareness Day is coming up on 20th May!

Each year during Awareness Month, organisations across the world come together to celebrate and raise awareness of Williams Syndrome.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details 💫

❤️What is Williams Syndrome?❤️

Take a moment to read, learn, and help raise awareness by sharing this post!

Happy Williams Syndrome Awareness Month! 💙

Join CDLD this May as we celebrate and raise awareness of Williams syndrome. Stay tuned for facts, neuromyth busting, and helpful resources for families and educators.

We are excited to share that Prof Jo Van Herwegen and Arcelia Cheung will be delivering a webinar on mathematical development in people with Williams Syndrome on Monday 16th March at 7pm. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions during the session!

📩If you would like to join the webinar, please email [email protected].

Check out what’s going on for Dyscalculia Day 2026💜

A week packed with expert webinars, parent sessions and a full-day educator conference!

Take a look and book your place at www.dyscalculianetwork.com

🎙️Dyscalculia Research Revealed🎙️

Our lab director Prof Jo Van Herwegen recently took part in the Dyscalculia Research Revealed interview series, hosted by PhD student Jessica Maisey.

This series features short, engaging interviews with world leading researchers exploring dyscalculia and maths difficulties. In each interview, researchers summarise their recent work and explain what their findings mean for people with dyscalculia, as well as for parents, guardians and educators. They also share insights into their academic careers and discuss exciting directions for future research.

Alongside the interviews, CDLD has helped provide some clear and accessible summaries of key dyscalculia studies. These break down each study’s methods and findings and highlight the key takeaways most relevant for educators and parents.

👉 Check out the page here!
https://dyscalculianetwork.com/dyscalculia-research-revealed/

We’re excited to share that our Lab Directors Professor Jo Van Herwegen and Dr Laura Outhwaite will be speaking as part of Dyscalculia Day at the Online Educator Conference - Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Dyscalculia and SpLD in Maths on Friday 6th March!

They will be exploring variations in cognitive profiles of children and adults with dyscalculia, sharing findings from a knowledge exchange project developed in collaboration with the Dyscalculia Network and UCL Institute of Education, as part of a HEIF-funded project. 🔗

Book your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-numbers-understanding-dyscalculia-and-spld-in-maths-tickets-1975080645378?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile

A big well done to Seyda whose first paper was published today! 🎉

Check it out here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1662602/full

Huge congratulations to Arcelia on passing her PhD upgrade for her research exploring the effectiveness of maths intervention programmes in improving the maths abilities of children with Williams syndrome and Down syndrome! A brilliant milestone 🎉

Arcelia would also like to express her sincere gratitude to her examiners Dr. Mojtaba Soltanlou and Dr. Rosanne Esposito, for their time and thoughtful feedback. Her heartfelt thanks also goes to her supervisors Prof. Jo Van Herwegen, Prof. Michael Thomas, and Prof. Victoria Simms for their continuous guidance throughout her first year of PhD.

Dyscalculia Awareness Day - Short Course