Contact
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
Programme | Module Code | Module Name | Role:
|
BEd Primary | ED8216 | Supporting learners with special educational needs in all settings | Lecturer |
BEd Primary | ED8215 | Inclusive and special education 1 | Lecturer |
BSc in Education Studies | ES8311 | Special Educational Needs | Lecturer |
BSc 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. (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