Rebecca McKenzie (University of Plymouth)
Rebecca is a developmental psychologist and a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Plymouth. My research interest is thinking and problem-solving among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Find out more about my work:
rebecca.mckenzie@plymouth.ac.uk
https://intranet.plymouth.ac.uk/
Glyn runs the Support Center at Mayflower Community Primary School. Mayflower Support Centre is a specialist provision for children who have a complex communication or an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mayflower Support centre was officially recognized as a specialist support centre for children with complex communication/autism spectrum disorders in October 03 when it was known as South Trelawny Support Centre. Since the amalgamation of South Trelawny and North Prospect Schools a brand new school has been built on a new site hence Mayflower Community School which opened in September 09 with a beautiful purpose built Support Centre which is attached to the Foundation and Nursery block of the school.
http://www.mayflower-school.com/supportcentre.asp
Graham Hall (Bidwell Brook School)
I work in an all age special school in Devon and I am responsible for the development of support for pupils with autism throughout the school. During the last 25years I have been learning about autism and developing suitable teaching approaches. In particular, I am interested in the psychology of autism, how people with autism learn and make sense of their environment. I have identified problems with working memory as a key issue to consider when providing for pupils with autism. Find out more about Bidwell Brook School here
Christianne works in the School of Health Professions at the University of Plymouth.
My research uses Conversation Analysis (CA) to examine the interactions of children with severe autism. Despite the recent increase in research into autism there has been little consideration given to those at the more severe end of the spectrum. Autism has often been examined in an experimental situation, an environment which highlights deficits. Studying autism in a naturalistic environment where interactions take place within a framework of shared understanding and mutual knowledge offers the opportunity for competencies to be observed.
My study examines the function of diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) for parents and the nature of dilemmas that are faced by those seeking such a diagnosis. In tandem with this the project uses data from The Avon Longitudinal Survey of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to analyse whether ASD diagnosis (and subsequent interventions) have led to better or worse outcomes compared with undiagnosed children who are on the spectrum. I am also looking at which social and demographic factors predict ASD diagnosis whilst controlling for severity of traits.
Details of research project.
Daniel Zahra (University of Plymouth)
I’m currently a PhD student at the University of Plymouth, where my current work focuses mainly on developing a better understanding of the mechanisms through which emotion and reasoning interact, although I am also interested in emotional disorders and related conditions. In particular, I’d like to develop my work in understanding how extreme emotional states such as in anxiety disorders, and difficulties with emotional processing, such as in alexithymia and ASD’s, interact with reasoning processes. My recent, current, and planned work can be found at
http://daniel-zahra.webs.com/.
Barbara Wilson and the members of NAS SOMAAG Devon Branch
Barbara runs 2 support groups for adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition. SOMAAG stands for Support & Outreach for Mature Autistic/Asperger’s Group. This is a social group where adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition can share and develop their skills around friendships and social interaction as well as learn about how autism affects them and how they can learn to live alongside it. Find out more about NAS SOMAAG Devon
http://www.autism.org.uk/directory/a-to-z/pg=1/resources/14360.aspxIsabel Jones (Artistic Director of Salamanda Tandem)
Isabel uses movement and sound to encourage play and interaction among children with autism.
Isabel is a dancer, singer, composer, choreographer and director with 18 years experience of making arts work with people. She is the Artistic Director and founder of the charity Salamanda Tandem formed in 1989. Her work brings together teams of sensory experts; dancers, sensory artists, writers, visual artists, and musicians who are both disabled and able bodied, to research, redefine and cross boundaries between people and art forms. To date Isabel has directed and choreographed nine full-length works with Salamanda Tandem, and other shorter performances with other artists. Find out more about Salamanda Tandem http://www.salamanda-tandem.org/main%20pages/about%20us.htm
