Tara Vassallo
Profiles

Tara Vassallo

Lecturer in Education

Plymouth Institute of Education (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

Autism,

Inclusion,
Child development,
Social and family systems,
Psychology,
Neurodevelopment.

Research

Research

Research interests

Autism,

Child development,
Social and family systems,
Alternative Education - Learning Outside of Formal Education
Neurodevelopment
Systemic Practice in Inclusive Education, Health and Social Care [Autism and SEN]

Research Projects
Doctoral research: SAFE with Schools [SwiS] - an attachment-narrative based systemic family therapy programme of support for parents and teachers of autistic children. 
SAFE for Families (Systemic Autism-related Family Enabling) - a family therapeutic based intervention for families of children with autism.
Beechwood Edison Therapy Garden
Covid 19 - Impact on academics and early career researchers
Sail training - social working at the bridge
Dental access for autistic children and young people


Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals

Bamsey, V., Blandford, S., Gibson, S., Tarling, J., Vassallo, T. (2022) ‘SEND Green Paper 2022 – Some Critical Insights’ Teaching Times. Online https://www.teachingtimes.com/send-green-paper-2022-some-critical-insights/ 

Erwin, J., Paisi, M., Witton, R., Neill, S., Burns, L., Vassallo, I., Nelder, A., Facenfield, J., Devalia, U. and Vassallo, T., 2021. Factors Influencing Oral Health Behaviours, Access and Provision of Dental Care for Autistic Children and Adolescents in Countries with a Very High Human Development Index: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), p.12346.

Morgan, A., Langford, S. & Vassallo, T. 2021 'Fulfilling Careers in the Sail Training sector: charting a course for professionals and volunteers – it’s not about the boat!'. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, (published online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41978-021-00085-4) 

McKenzie, R., Dallos, R., Vassallo, T., Myhill, C., Gude, A. and Bond, N., 2021. Family Experience of Safe: A New Intervention for Families of Children with a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Contemporary Family Therapy, pp.1-12.

Vassallo, T., Dallos, R. and Mckenzie, R., 2020. Parent and Teacher Understandings of the Needs of Autistic Children and the Processes of Communication between the Home and School Contexts. Autism-Open Access 10(4), No:262

McKenzie, R., Dallos, R., Stedmon, J., Hancocks, H., Vickery, P.J., Barton, A., Vassallo, T., Myhill, C., Chynoweth, J. and Ewings, P., 2020. SAFE, a new therapeutic intervention for families of children with autism: a randomised controlled feasibility trial. BMJ open, 10(12), p.e038411.

McKenzie, R., Dallos, R., Stedmon, J., Hancocks, H., Vickery, P.J., Ewings, P., Barton, A., Vassallo, T. and Myhill, C., 2019. SAFE, a new therapeutic intervention for families of children with autism: study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial. BMJ open, 9(5), p.e025006.

Vassallo, T. 2016 "It's such a battle": A phenomenological account of raising a child on the autistic spectrum; a battle with bureaucracy and behaviour', The Plymouth Student Scientist, 9(1), p. 229-251.


Articles
Erwin J, Paisi M, Neill S, Burns L, Vassallo I, Nelder A, Facenfield J, Devalia U, Vassallo T & Witton R (2022) 'Factors influencing oral health behaviours, access and delivery of dental care for autistic children and adolescents: A mixed‐methods systematic review' Health Expectations , DOI Open access
Neill S, Erwin J, Paisi M, Witton R, Burns L, Vassallo I, Nelder A, Facenfield J, Devalia U & Vassallo T (2021) 'Factors Influencing Oral Health Behaviours, Access and Provision of Dental Care for Autistic Children and Adolescents in Countries with a Very High Human Development Index: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review' International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, (23) , DOI Open access
Morgan A, Langford S & Vassallo T (2021) 'Fulfilling Careers in the Sail Training Sector: Charting a Course for Professionals and Volunteers – it’s not About the Boat!' International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure , DOI Open access
McKenzie R, Dallos R, Vassallo T, Myhill C, Gude A & Bond N (2021) 'Family Experience of Safe: A New Intervention for Families of Children with a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder' Contemporary Family Therapy 44, (2) 144-155 , DOI
McKenzie R, Dallos R, Stedmon J, Hancocks H, Vickery PJ, Barton A, Vassallo T, Myhill C, Chynoweth J & Ewings P (2020) 'SAFE, a new therapeutic intervention for families of children with autism: a randomised controlled feasibility trial' BMJ Open 10, (12) e038411-e038411 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Vassallo T, Dallos R & Stancer R (2020) 'Parent and Teacher Understandings of the Needs of Autistic Children and the Processes of Communication between the Home and School Contexts' Autism-Open Access 10, (4) 0-0 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
McKenzie R, Dallos R, Stedmon J, Hancocks H, Vickery PJ, Ewings P, Barton A, Vassallo T & Myhill C (2019) 'SAFE, a new therapeutic intervention for families of children with autism: study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial' BMJ Open 9, (5) e025006-e025006 , DOI Open access
Chapters
Vassallo T (2023) 'Fostering Home-School Relationships: SAFE with Schools (SwiS)' in Dallos R Attachment Narrative Therapy Applications and Developments Switzerland Palgrave Macmillan 195-228 , DOI