Contact
Telephone
01 805 7700
Location
St Mary's, Room 222
Rannóg
Department of Inclusion, Religious Education and Wellbeing
Role
Lecturer in Education with Expertise in Inclusive Education and Special Educational Needs
Biography
Elizabeth is a former primary school teacher with experience in both mainstream and special education settings. Elizabeth worked as a learning support teacher, and as a class teacher in a special school before working as an autism special class teacher for eighteen years in a mainstream school. Within this time, she also worked as an autism advisor for the NCSE for three years full time and for a further year as an associate advisor. Elizabeth has just completed her Education Doctorate by conducting research on how to meaningfully and functionally include autistic pupils with a significant learning disability alongside their peers in the mainstream setting. This entailed using a specifically designed neuro-affirmative programme linked to quality-of-life indicators.
Qualifications
2020 – 2024: Professional Doctorate in Education: Special and Inclusive Education: St Patricks College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland.
2018 – 2019: Post Graduate Certificate in Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England.
2007 – 2008: Post Graduate Certificate in the Education of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, St Patricks College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland.
2002 – 2004: Masters of Arts Degree in Educational Studies (Special Educational Needs: Focus area – Mainstream Inclusion) Christ Church University College, Canterbury, Kent, England.
2000 – 2002: Advanced Diploma in Specialist Teaching Studies (Special Educational Needs), Christ Church University College, Canterbury, Kent, England.
1997- 2000: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Primary Education (with Qualified Teacher Status) Christ Church University College, Canterbury, Kent, England.
Teaching
B.Ed Primary: ED8216 – Supporting learners with special educational needs in all settings — Lecturer
B.Ed Primary: ED8215 – Inclusive and special education 1 — Lecturer
B.Sc in Education Studies: ES8311 – Special educational needs — Lecturer
B.Sc in Education Studies: ES8210 – Special educational needs II — Lecturer
Early Childhood Education: EC103 – Foundation in inclusive education: Special educational needs in early childhood education — Lecturer
Early Childhood Education: EC8211 – Special needs education in early childhood education: From theory to practice — Lecturer
Early Childhood Education: Academic Integrity and Writing Support
PME: Dissertation
Publications and other outputs
Journal Articles
Flanagan, E. (2022). ‘Getting Special Class Inclusion on the Agenda: Transformational Leadership and Developing a Whole School Approach to Inclusion’, REACH Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland. 35, 88–99.
Thesis
Flanagan, E. (2024). They have a right to be included: A neuro-affirmative approach to including autistic pupils with a significant learning disability alongside their peers, [Doctoral dissertation, Dublin City University]. DORAS: DCU Research Repository. https://doras.dcu.ie/28729/
Conference Contributions
Flanagan, E. (2025, August 26 - 29). Looking Towards Adult Quality of Life: The Important Role of School Based Inclusion for Autistic Students with a Significant Learning Disability [Paper Presentation]. Association for Teacher Education In Europe (ATEE), Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland.
Flanagan, E. (2024, November 14-16). They have the Right to be Included: A Neuro-Affirmative Approach to Including Autistic Pupils with a Significant Learning Disability Alongside their Peers [Online Early Career Researcher Forum]. International Professional Development Association, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Flanagan, E. (2024, October 17-18). They have the Right to be Included: A Neuro-Affirmative Approach to Including Autistic Pupils with a Significant Learning Disability Alongside their Peers [Paper Presentation]. Standing Conference of Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENs), Slieve Russell, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.
Flanagan, E. (2023, October 17-18). Mainstream Social Inclusion for Autistic Pupils with a Co-occurring Significant Disability [Doctoral Roundtable]. Standing Conference of Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENs), Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh.
Flanagan, E. (2024, April 4-6). Mainstream Social Inclusion for Autistic Pupils with a Co-occurring Significant Disability [Paper presentation]. Education Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), Maynooth University, Co. Kildare.
Research/Professional Interests
Inclusive education, special educational needs, special class provision, autism, general learning disability