On October 1^st 2026, City St George's, University of London, hosted a panel on Disability and Neurodiversity in Comics.

Chaired by Ernesto Priego, the panel successfully explored how graphic novels can challenge stereotypes, create connections and invite readers to see the world from different perspectives.

The session was well attended, with the room at full capacity.

Calling upon the powerful true stories behind their work, graphic novelists Francisco de la Mora, Gemma Plum and Zara Slattery examined how comics can make visible experiences that are often overlooked, opening up conversations about disability, neurodiversity, care and belonging.

The event coincided with the official UK release of Gemma Plum’s The Great Marc Evers. The True Story of a Champion Against All Odds (Selfmadehero 2026), which tells in comics form ‘the inspiring life story of one of the greatest Paralympic swimming champions, and his family that stopped focusing on a “no” to find a “yes”.

Thirty-seven internal and external participants, including HCID students from the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cohort, engaged in the Q&A , chatted with the authors, bought their books and got them signed after the panel over refreshments.

This event also provided an opportunity to talk about Ernesto’s Parables of Care project creating comics about dementia care, and copies were distributed freely with participants who had not heard of the project before.

One member of the audience even did some sketchnoting during the panel in comics form!

This activity also officially launched Ernesto’s Sabbatical research leave.

The event was organised in collaboration with comics publisher Selfmadehero.