Ann Lewis is Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham (UK) where she was research leader for a unique, 35-strong, academic group focusing on children with special needs or disabilities. She is also Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick (UK).
She has a longstanding interest in the ‘voice’ of disabled children, in particular, conceptual and methodological aspects of realising such ‘voice’ authentically in diverse contexts. This is reflected in her research (e.g. ‘The experiences of disabled pupils and their families’ (2004-7) funded by the Disability Rights Commission), publications, consultancies and her role on national research steering groups (e.g. BBC Children in Need; Big Lottery Fund; and the Arts Council).
She is engaged at national and international levels with research and critiques of policy concerning provision for children with special needs or disabilities. She was a member of the Advisory Group for the Lamb Inquiry (2008-10), set up by the UK Government to examine ways of increasing parental confidence in the SEN assessment process. Related to this, she was specialist advisor to the preceding House of Commons Select Committees on SEN (2006, 2007). A key aspect of her work concerns the extent to which children with special needs or disabilities require demonstrably different teaching strategies from those used with other children.
Research interests
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Disability voice’, that is, hearing directly from children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) about their views
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Methods and methodologies around disability ‘voice’
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Critiques of ‘SEN pedagogies’
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SEN policy debates (see above) in national and international contexts
Knowledge Exchange and impact
Ann’s work in the field of ‘disability voice’ is reflected in the Birmingham University ‘Heroes’ campaign, in which she (with Professors Stephen Gorard and James Arthur) represented the School of Education with the strapline: “We are ensuring that schools focus on the ‘i’ in pupil”.
She was a member of the Core Advisors’ Group- Member (2008-10) for the Lamb Inquiry into parental confidence in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) assessment system.
Lewis, A. (2011, in press) Disabled children’s ‘voice’ and experiences, in S. Haines and D. Ruebain (eds) Education, Disability and Social Policy Bristol: Policy Press
Lewis, A. (2010) Silence in the context of child ‘voice’ Children and Society 24 14-23
Lewis, A. (2009) Methodological issues in exploring the ideas of children with autism concerning self and spirituality Religion, Disability and Health 13 64-76
Parsons, S., Lewis, A., Davison, I., Ellins, J. & Robertson, C. (2009). Satisfaction with educational provision for children with SEN or disabilities: A national postal survey of the views of parents in Great Britain. Educational Review, 61 1 19-47.
Lewis, A. and Norwich, B.(eds) (2005) Special Teaching for Special Children? Pedagogies for inclusion. Buckingham: Open University Press pp 1-238
Lewis, A. and Lindsay, G. (eds) (2000) Researching Children’s Perspectives. Buckingham: Open University Press pp 1-24
Publications 2008 - 2011 (PDF 125, opens new window)
Publications 2001 - 2007 (PDF 143, opens new window)