Summary CV

Education and Qualifications

PhD in Education: Autism, Learning Disabilities and Transition, University of Sussex

MA Education: University of Sussex

Post-graduate certificate in education: PGCE Secondary English, University of Bath

BA: English, History and Politics, University of Exeter

Employment History

Global Technical Lead, Inclusive Learning and Teaching, Sightsavers (2021-2023)
Director of Student Experience and Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex (2001-2021)
Assistant Principal, Park College, Eastbourne (1995-2001)
Head of Department, Collyers Sixth Form College, Horsham (1992-1995)
Teacher - secondary and sixth form (1988-92)

Selected publications

Shepherd, J., Durrant, C. and Hancock, C. (2021) ‘Happier in his own clothes’: post-pandemic possibilities for education for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - perspectives from parent carers. University of Sussex Research Report.

Shepherd, J. (2020) Beyond tick-box transitions? Experiences of autistic students moving from special to further education. International Journal of Inclusive Education. ISSN 1360-3116

Shepherd, J. (2019) Challenges and recommendations for the educational inclusion of out of school children with disabilities in Jordan QRF and Ministry of Education Jordan

Parry, J and Shepherd, J. (2018) Understanding oral health challenges for children

and young people with autistic spectrum conditions: views of families and the dental team Journal of Disability and Oral Health 19 (4) pp. 170-174

Shepherd, J. (2016) [Review] Katie Ellis and Gerard Goggin (2015) Disability and the media. Disability and Society, 32 (2). pp. 278-279. ISSN 0968-7599

Shepherd, J. (2016) [Review] Symeonidou and Beauchamp-Pryor (2013) Purpose, process and future direction of disability research. Disability and Society, 31 (3). pp. 437-439. ISSN 0968-7599

Shepherd, J. (2015). ‘Interrupted Interviews’: listening to young people with autism in transition to college. Exchanges: The Warwick Research Journal, 2(2), 249-262. Retrieved from: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/index.php/exchanges/article/view/62

Selected presentations

February 2023 invited speaker at the 2nd International Conference on Global Academia in New Normal & Emergencies (Islamabad, Pakistan) The importance of inclusive learning and teaching

July 2021 Presentation to teachers on the Impact of Covid on children with Special Educational Needs University of Sussex

February 2020 Invited speaker at the National Autistic Society Professionals Conference ‘Reforming the curriculum and assessment for learners in special school settings’ (co-produced with Downs View Special School) Birmingham

December 2019 Invited speaker to the Launch of ‘Amazing Me’ autism training session for all schools across East Sussex

November 2019 Invited speaker to London Speech Therapists’ Conference ‘Come on in –the water’s lovely: Creating inclusive classrooms for autistic children’, London

September 2019 presentation at UKFIET with Dr Susie Miles and Dr Jo Westbrook, ‘Learning about inclusion from ‘ordinary’ primary school teachers in sub-saharan Africa’

May 2019 Nordic Network for Disability Research, What does inclusion look like for autistic students at university? Copenhagen

February 2018 Invited speaker at Autism and Anxiety Conference, National Autistic Society,

‘Managing anxiety at times of transition’, Bristol

September 2016: Autism Europe, Edinburgh "I really do like socialising with my friends..." - Social support for young people with autism’