• PhD
• BSc.(Hons)

Graeme is the deputy head of the Disability Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN) department (with a particular lead on research).  DISN is the largest department of its kind in the world and comprises over 35 academics researching and studying in the field of inclusion and disability.  Graeme’s main teaching activities are in the area of research methods training for research students.  His teaching particularly focuses upon methods of data collection and analysis. He also supervises doctoral research students working in the area of visual impairment in particular and disability and SEN in general.

He is co-editor of the British Journal of Visual Impairment, a key international journal which publishes empirical articles which aim to increase understanding of the potential barriers to learning and participation that may be experienced by individuals with visual impairment.

He has broad research interests around the social and educational inclusion of visually impaired people, and this specifically includes: visually impaired people's views and circumstances, education and visual impairment, various aspects of reading / information access and visual impairment, research methods.  Central to Graeme’s work is a commitment to representing disabled people’s views and opinions.

Recent and current research grants include:

Accessibility of public examination systems for blind and partially sight pupils (RNIB).  Role: PI.

• ENABLER: employment needs amongst blind and partially sighted job seekers (BLF, RNIB).  Role: PI.
• Review of best practice in the education of visually impaired children and young people, and implications for Irish policy (National Council for Special Education, Ireland).  Role: PI
• Braille in the 21st Century – opportunities, benefits, and challenges for adults with acquired sight loss (RNIB).  Role: PI.
• Network 1000 Phase 1 and Phase 2 – the circumstances and opinions of visually impaired people in Britain (Vision 2020 UK, BLF).  Role: PI.
• Post-14 transitions: longitudinal study of from age 14 of blind and partially young people in the UK (RNIB). Role: PI
• The needs of people with acquired hearing and sight loss (Thomas Pocklington Trust).  Role: Joint-PI.
• Steps to Independence – the mobility and independence needs of visually impaired children and young people (DfES, RNIB, Opsis, GDBA).  Role: PI.
• Braille and pharmaceutical packaging (consortium through RNIB and European Standards Organisation).  Role: PI.
• Non-medical eye clinic support services (Thomas Pocklington Trust).  Role: PI.
• Educational inclusion of children with visual impairment in developing countries (Sightsavers International).  Role: advisor.

Selected Publications

Clements, B., Douglas, G. And Pavey, S. (2011). Which factors affect the chances of paid employment for individuals with visual impairment in Britain? WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 39, 1, 21-30

Douglas, G., McLinden, M., McCall, S., Pavey, S., Ware, J., and Farrell, A. (2011). Access to print literacy for children and young people with visual impairment: findings from a review of literature. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 26, 1, 25-38.

Douglas, G., McLinden, M., Farrell, A., Ware, J., McCall, S., and Pavey, S., (2011). Access to print literacy for children and young people with visual impairment: implications for policy and practice. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 26, 1, 39-46.

Douglas, G., Pavey, S., Corcoran, C. and Eperjesi, F. (2010). Individuals' recollections of the experiences in eye clinics and understanding of their eye condition: results from a survey of visually impaired people in Britain. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 30, 6, 748-757

Douglas, G., McCall, S., McLinden, M., Pavey, S. Ware, J. and Farrell, A. (2010) International review of the literature of evidence of best practice models and outcomes in the education of blind and visually impaired children.  National Council for Special Education, Ireland. 192pp. http://www.ncse.ie/

Douglas, G. Weston, A., Whittaker, J., Morley-Wilkins, S. and Robinson, D. (2009) An investigation of embossed Braille dot height for labelling on pharmaceutical products, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 103, 10, 662-667.

Clements, B. and Douglas, G. (2009) Network 1000 Survey 1: Comparing the General and Registered Visually Impaired Populations.  Peterborough: RNIB

Douglas, G. Pavey, S., Corcoran, C. and Clements, B. (2009) Visually impaired people’s access to employment. University of Birmingham, February.

Many research reports are available on the VICTAR website (http://www.education.bham.ac.uk/research/victar/research.shtml) Graeme was also the co-author of some specialist software including “Centre Touch Typing Tutor”, a software programme which was designed to assist teaching touch typing skills to visually impaired children.  It was first designed and written in the 1990s within VICTAR at the University of Birmingham.  Still popular, it is now available as freeware.  http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/173

Full publication list for Dr Graeme Douglas (PDF 137KB, opens new window)