Communication for Inclusion Research Unit (CIRU)
The Communication for Inclusion Research Unit (CIRU) is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency research group run jointly by the Psychology Division at Nottingham Trent University and the Community Educational Psychology Service (CEPS), Nottingham City Children’s Services.
The unit’s Steering Group comprises:
- head teachers from local schools
- educational psychologists
- an NTU student
- academic psychologists
- speech and language therapists
- parents of children with particular education needs.
Members of the research group share an interest in communication impairment and educational and social inclusion. We aim to support and develop the use of collaborative, inclusive action research to promote social change in the broad field of communication disabilities and inclusion.
Activities:
- a local authority action research project on supporting access to the curriculum through pointing
- a funded project on the use of eye tracking and video analysis as a way of understanding facilitated communication (funded by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Boston, MA)
- a Stimulation Innovation for Success (SIS) funded project aimed at sharing knowledge and expertise between psychology at NTU and Nottingham City Children’s Services
- planning a series of yearly conferences and half yearly special interest group meetings for local practitioners and researchers
- facilitating a bi-monthly communication interest group network involving parents or carers, communication aid users, teachers, educational psychologists and researchers
- developing modules on taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
- membership of the Nottingham Research Network (Special Educational Needs) with colleagues from the University of Nottingham, local schools, and the Local Authority.
For further information about CIRU/CART please contact:
- Dr Anne Emerson, Division of Psychology
- Dr Andy Grayson, Division of Psychology
- Dr Jackie Dearden, Community Educational Psychology Service.
