Academic biography

Dr. Laura Gormley contributes to a number of programmes within the School of Inclusive and Special Education in DCU, focusing primarily on supporting postgraduate teachers working with autistic learners, as well as those working with learners with severe to profound general learning difficulties. Within this role, Laura has the opportunity to collaborate practically with educators to adapt evidence-informed practices to develop increasingly more accessible and inclusive learning environments for all learners.

Laura’s Irish Research Council (IRC)-funded PhD research programme examined the dissemination of evidence-based practice to professionals working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since completing her PhD, Laura has worked as a postdoctoral researcher with the Behaviour Research Unit (BRU) at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and held the position of programme director on the BA (Hons) in Montessori Education with Saint Nicholas Montessori College, Dun Laoghaire. 

Laura has been the principal investigator on a number of research projects that have explored ways to enhance the quality of learning experiences for autistic students, as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is currently a Researcher in Residence on the Teaching Council's panel (with a focus on Inclusion and Supporting Teachers' Learning). She is also working on a co-produced research project, alongside colleagues from the autistic community and Queen's University, Belfast.