Associate Professor Dr Suanne Gibson has over the past 10 years developed a range of partnerships with and for disability, equality and inclusion.
Increasingly, young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities are being excluded. There is a growing divide in their progression to further and higher education, and challenges with rising mental health needs.
Increasingly, young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities are being excluded. There is a growing divide in their progression to further and higher education, and challenges with rising mental health needs.
Lord Chris Holmes stated (Holmes, 2022): “Data for this is clear, the progression rate, measuring the number of pupils progressing from school to higher education, was 47.5% for pupils with no identified Special Education Needs (SEN). However, progression rates for pupils with SEN ranged from 20.8% for pupils receiving extra or different help in school (SEN Support) to just 8.4% for pupils which a statement of SEN or Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP).”
Suanne works in partnership with Lord Chris Holmes, DaniMation UK, Disabled Students UK, Disability Rights UK, The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE), National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP), the Consortium of Inclusive Teacher Education and Development (CITED) and locally with the Regional Schools Commissioner office and Plymouth city council.
This work has resulted in providing research evidence for government policy on Disabled Students Allowance, international publications, invited talks on inclusive provision in Higher Education and the development of a new mentoring model 'Opportunity Plymouth'. Suanne was invited to join round table discussions with ALLFIE and Disability Rights UK focusing on post 16 options, employability and disability equality in schools.
With over 200 participants worldwide, Suanne organised and delivered an online webinar with partners on matters of access and disability. They are now working to grow this network of equality advocates.
More locally, Suanne's research has contributed to a South West webinar on the SEND Green paper, local policy and school practice, such as a shared definition and understanding of inclusive education across Plymouth city secondary schools.