Academic biography

Dr Trish Carolan is an Assistant Professor in the School of  Inclusive and Special Education at Dublin City University (DCU). She is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over twenty years’ experience in special and inclusive education. Her work focuses on supporting autistic learners with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and complex needs, with a particular emphasis on professional learning for school staff in evidence-informed practice and human rights-based approaches to behaviour and wellbeing support.

Trish completed her Doctorate in Education at DCU, where her research explored the use of coaching models as a framework for whole-school professional development in evidence-informed practices for learning and behaviour support.

Before joining DCU, Trish held senior leadership roles, including Director of Education and Senior Behaviour Analyst, in several special education settings. In these roles, she coordinated in-school support with HSE multidisciplinary teams, led inclusion initiatives connecting special and mainstream schools, supervised trainee behaviour analysts and psychologists, and delivered professional learning for teachers and special needs assistants. Trish also worked nationally with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for five years as Behaviour Advisor, where she designed and delivered professional development programmes and provided in-school support to teachers across Ireland.

Research Interests

Trish’s research interests include whole-school professional learning and development for special needs assistants and their teacher colleagues, Positive Behaviour and Wellbeing Support in educational contexts, reducing restrictive practices in schools, and advancing evidence-informed practice in special classes and special schools.