Contributors

Jennifer L. Austin Ph.D., BCBA

Jennifer L. Austin received her doctoral degree in Psychology from the Florida State University in 1999 and her certification as a behaviour analyst (BCBA) in 1994. Dr. Austin developed and served as a primary member of staff for behaviour analysis courses at the University of South Florida and California State University, Fresno.  She currently leads the BSc course in Childhood and Youth at the University of Glamorgan. Her teaching and research focus on behaviour analytic applications in schools, especially with regard to teacher education, intervention planning and evaluation for typically developing children with severe behavioural challenges, and behaviour analytic teaching strategies for university students.

She also works with schools and families to develop applied behaviour analytic programs for children with a range of behaviour problems, including antisocial behaviour and autism. Dr. Austin is an Associate Editor of Behavior Analysis in Practice and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the European Journal of Behaviour Analysis. She is a past member of the Executive Boards for both the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis and the California Association for Behavior Analysis.

Belinda Blank

Belinda Blank leads on Transition to adult life for students at TreeHouse School, a school for students with severe autism in north London which is part of the charity Ambitious About Autism. As well as working with students and parents in the school Belinda is undertaking a Transition Project which will enable the work being done at TreeHouse to be disseminated more widely.

Prior to joining TreeHouse Belinda had over five years experience of Autism Advocacy work supporting parents through SENDIST Tribunals and was trained by the NAS and IPSEA (Independent Panel for Special Education Advice). Belinda has also been the Director of a charity providing sports and recreational activities for children with special needs. She has written and presented Autism Awareness and other trainings. Belinda is the founder and Chair of Trustees of a large local sports club and is undertaking a Masters in Education in Autism.

Virginia Bovell OBE

Virginia Bovell OBE has a teenage son with autism and severe learning difficulties, who attends TreeHouse School, which she co-founded with a group of other parents. A former trustee of the National Autistic Society and the TreeHouse Trust (now Ambitious about Autism), she has also participated in various government advisory groups and has contributed to awareness-raising about the educational needs of children and young people with autism through the media, local campaigning and parliamentary lobbying.  With a background in social and health policy research, she is now studying for a DPhil.

Professor Tony Charman

Professor Tony Charman holds the Chair in Autism Education at the Institute of Education, London. His main research interest is the investigation of social cognitive development in children with autism and the clinical application of this work via screening, epidemiological, intervention, education and 'at risk' studies. Tony is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and works in a clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust for children with complex neurodevelopmental conditions. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and is the author of over 25 book chapters.

He is former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Associate Editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders; International Editor-at-Large of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and is on the Editorial/Advisory Boards several other journals. Tony has served on a number of expert panels for the Medical Research Council in the UK and NIH in the USA.

He is a member of the Guidelines Development Group for the NICE guidelines on identification, referral and diagnosis of children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder. He is Chair of the Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism and has worked closely with Ambitious about Autism, the National Autistic Society, Research Autism and Autistica to advocate for services and positive policy development for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Lesley Gannon

As Head of Campaigns for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Lesley works to ensure that NAHT is responding to, and driving current and future education policy affecting our members. She plays a key role in the development, and delivery of Association policy and, in particular, managing and maintaining NAHT’s parliamentary work. Lesley joined the NAHT in January 2008 following four years as Head of Widening Participation and Schools and College Liaison at the University of Cambridge.

Having left St John Bosco High, Liverpool aged 16, Lesley went on to attend East 15 Acting School, the University of Glamorgan and the University of Bristol graduating with an MA in Feminist Performance. She has worked as a lecturer and programme manager at colleges of further and higher education across the UK and for several years was the Curriculum Manager at Coleg Harlech, one of the few remaining Adult Residential Colleges offering ‘second-chance’ learning opportunities to adults with no formal qualifications.

Lesley has a long-standing commitment to equality and diversity issues and is a passionate believer in the transformative effect of education.

Lisa Hopkins

Lisa Hopkins is the Director of Specialist Development at Dimensions. Dimensions is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting approximately 2,500 people with autism and learning disabilities throughout England and Wales. Lisa is responsible for autism service development, behaviour support, assistive technology, better practice, and employment. Lisa’s educational and professional experience began in Canada and she has been working in England since 2008 for Dimensions.

Becky Jones

Becky Jones is the Deputy Headteacher at TreeHouse School a special school for children with autism in North London. Becky has 14 years’ experience working with children, young people and adults with learning difficulties. Her work has covered various settings, including respite care centres, residential homes for children with autism, holiday camps and family homes. A qualified teacher, she has previously worked in mainstream schools. Becky's past roles have included Humanities and English teacher, Nurture Group Teacher (meeting special educational needs within a mainstream setting) and Special Educational Needs Coordinator.

Damian Milton

Damian Milton is currently studying for a doctorate with the Autism Centre for Educational Research at the University of Birmingham, and has also recently become a member of the steering group for this department. Damian holds a number of academic qualifications in Sociology, Psychology, and Education, with a number of years experience as a lecturer in both FE and HE. He has also formally presented papers at academic conferences, and is an online ‘community champion’ on the talkaboutautism.org.uk online forum.

Damian has a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome, and is a single father to his young son who has a diagnosis of autism.  He participated in the AET Outcomes Project, and is particularly interested in its findings, as his own research concerns perspectives regarding education, particularly from those on the spectrum themselves.

Gareth D Morewood

Gareth is Director of Curriculum Support (SENCo) at Priestnall School, a large comprehensive secondary school in the north-west of England, awarded an ‘Outstanding’ judgement by Ofsted in June 2011. He has worked voluntarily supporting parents and carers with SEN legislation and in preparing cases for SENDIST, and is a member of advisory groups for the DfE-hosted ‘senco-forum’ and for nasen. 

Gareth is a passionate advocate of inclusive education, has written extensively and regularly speaks at national conferences, particularly on provision within mainstream settings for students with complex needs.  Priestnall School was part of a Manchester University, ESRC funded 4 year study into the inclusion of young people with ASC in mainstream schools and Gareth also supports other Local Authorities and schools on their provision for young people with autism, as well as recently being invited to address post graduate students on Birmingham University’s autism residential weekends.

Gareth’s ground-breaking eBook, The Role of the SENCo: an insider’s guide was published by Optimus in 2010, and he is now developing whole-school SEND materials as part of a DfE-funded national project.  Gareth is also working towards a professional doctorate looking at his skills as a 21st Century SENCo, and the inclusive outcomes for the young people with whom he works.

Dr. Julie O’Sullivan

Dr. Julie O’Sullivan is Headteacher at TreeHouse School, having joined in 2007. Before that, she was Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator at the north London comprehensive, Fortismere School, for seven years.

Julie originally trained to teach Music and started her career as a secondary school music teacher.

Dr Sarah Parsons

Sarah joined the University of Southampton's Education School as a Reader in Education in January 2011 where she is Acting Head of the Research Centre for Social Justice and Inclusive Education. Previously Sarah was based at the University of Birmingham where she was a member of the Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs Department and Deputy Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research. She has significant research experience in disability related projects and particular interests in the use of innovative technologies for children with autism and the views and experiences of disabled children and their families.

She is currently a partner on the COSPATIAL project funded by the European Commission (€1.65M) which explores the use of innovative technologies for supporting social skills and collaborative working for children with and without autism (2009-12); and the 'Outcomes' project funded by the Autism Education Trust. Sarah also led a systematic international review of evidence on best practice provision for children on the autism spectrum for the National Council for Special Education in Ireland (2009).

Lorraine Petersen OBE

Lorraine Petersen OBE is Chief Executive Officer of Nasen, a national organisation which aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special and additional support needs.  Lorraine has many years’ experience of working with pupils with an array of special and additional needs within mainstream settings. She completed her 25 year teaching career as head teacher of two very diverse primary schools.

She also has hands-on experience of the issues relating to caring for and educating children with special and additional educational needs. Lorraine has worked on a number of projects with the Department for Education (DfE), the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the Training and Development Agency (TDA). She is also a member of several advisory groups and a Trustee of Ambitious about Autism and Vice Chair of Governors at Treehouse School.  In June 2009 Lorraine was awarded the OBE for services to education.

Jude Ragan OBE

Jude Ragan OBE is Headteacher at Queensmill School. Jude trained and qualified as a teacher of children with special needs in 1972, and from that point has worked in the field of autism, either as a teacher, a manager or as an inspector with Ofsted. She has been headteacher of four special schools, all of which catered for students with autism. Her present school, Queensmill in Hammersmith and Fulham, caters for children and young people with autism from the ages of 2 – 19.  It has been judged to be outstanding in the last two Ofsted inspections. Additionally, it is setting up autism units in local mainstream schools. Queensmill will move into a new purpose-built school in 2012, demonstrating the borough’s commitment to the education of students with autism.

Claire Ryan

Claire Ryan is one of Ambitious about Autism’s Parent Patrons. Claire has three children who are all on the spectrum: Hollie 15, Josie, 13 and Jack 5.  Hollie and Josie are Youth Patrons of Ambitious about Autism and Young Campaigners for the National Autistic Society.

Claire is a Speech and Language Assistant and works locally for the NHS in Kent. She also volunteers as a Community Champion for the Talk about Autism online community, where she plays a key role in supporting new members.

Kate Williams

Kate Williams is Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Ambitious about Autism. Kate previously worked on campaigns and policy for the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, the Council for Disabled Children and the Special Educational Consortium.

She also worked in Parliament for Ed Balls MP when he was Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

Dr Kerstin Wittemeyer

Dr Kerstin Wittemeyer of The Autism Centre for Education and Research, University of Birmingham.