Professor Mike McLinden

• PhD, University of Birmingham,  2000
• BPhil Special Education: Visual Handicap, University of Birmingham, 1993 
• PGCE, Oxford Brookes, 1986
• MEd Child Development, Institute of Education, 1985
• BSc Psychology, Leicester, 1983

Mike's research interests in the field of inclusive education have been primarily concerned with the identification and reduction of potential barriers to learning and participation for children with sensory impairment including those with complex needs. Particular themes within this focus have included:

• Role of touch in the learning experiences of children with vision impairment
• Haptic exploratory strategies and children who are blind with additional needs
• Early literacy/communication (including Moon, objects of reference, tactile symbols)
• Role of Low Vision Aids for children with vision impairment and additional needs
• Effective curriculum access for children with multiple disabilities 

Recent funded projects he has contributed to include:

• ‘Evidence of best practice models and outcomes in the education of children with vision impairment’
• ‘Mobility and Independence outcomes for children with visual impairment’
• 'Development of online enquiry-based learning resources'
• 'Inclusion of children with vision impairment in developing countries' 

Mike was co-investigator for two reviews of literature funded by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in Ireland (International review of literature in visual impairment and education and International review of approaches to measuring educational engagement, progress and outcomes for children with special educational needs). Following blind peer review, both reviews were launched at conferences in Dublin and are now published and presented on the NCSE website. On the back of these publications Mike was invited by the Government in Ireland to undertake a review of the Visual Impairment Visiting Teacher Service in collaboration with a colleague from the University of Manchester.

He also has a broad research interest in professional learning and pedagogy within Higher Education and has been involved in a number of funded pedagogical projects in partnership with colleagues in the University and HE sector. He was Strand Lead (Part Time Learners) for the 2013 'Flexible Pedagogies' project funded by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and project lead for a 2016 HEA project examining how to promote equality of opportunity through flexible learning (Promoting Equality of Opportunity through Flexible Learning)

Knowledge Exchange

With colleagues in VICTAR and the School Mike was involved in a wide range of knowledge exchange activities within and beyond the academic sphere (e.g. policy makers and practitioners in the field of sensory needs). These activities include:

• contributing to strategic developments for project funders;
• running workshops and training events for schools, services and other academic institutions;
• invited keynote sessions at national and international conferences 

Mike was Joint Editor of the British Journal of Visual Impairment (SAGE) between 2006-2012. He serves as a reviewer for a range of peer reviewed journals including: 

• Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
• British Journal of Ophthalmology
• British Journal of Special Educational Needs
• European Journal of Special Education
• Australian Journal of Special Education
• Studies in Higher Education