We work towards ensuring the principles of inclusive and special education and research are promoted where all people – regardless of disability, difficulty or disadvantage – are afforded quality education through appropriate adjustments to learning activities and resources, throughout their lives.
This goal is reflected in the vision statement of our associated research group, SIERG:
“A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest achieving citizens, but by how it values, embraces and supports all people, especially its most vulnerable ones.”
Some of the methods we use to achieve our aims include:
- Adding to the existing body of knowledge through the publication of academic journal articles, professional journal and magazine articles, books, conference papers, conference presentations, social media, and exposure in mainstream media
- Conducting research that contributes to increased social and educational inclusion of people with disability
- Conducting research that contributes to the knowledge base on special education interventions and supports across a wide range of educational environments
- Conducting – where appropriate – inclusive research, in which people with disability have the role of co-researchers (and not just participants)
- Using innovative methodologies to enable access to research for people with diverse disabilities (for example, arts-based methodology)
- Endorsing and supporting the use of the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the teaching process in schools and all educational institutions
- Disseminating information about current research to members of our team, the UNSW community and the wider public
- Advocating for the use of evidence-based academic and behavioural practices to be used in all educational settings, particularly in K-12 education
- Providing professional learning opportunities for educators in disability, and special and inclusive education
- Engaging with educational institutions to support action research in schools
Through these methods, we strive to lessen the ‘research-to-practice’ gap and promote the concept that all people should have the opportunity to be educated to reach their full potential to become positive and confident individuals who are able to self-advocate and embrace lifelong education.
