Professor Rasha Bayoumi
Head of Research, Dubai
Research interests include health psychology, wellbeing, quality of life, women's health, reproductive health, and public health.
Behavioural science research theme
Research exploring human behaviour and decision-making.
Behavioural science research explores how people think, make decisions, and interact with the world around them. Bringing together expertise in psychology, wellbeing, neurodiversity, and digital accessibility, researchers generate evidence that informs policy, improves outcomes and supports more inclusive communities.
Research highlights
Wider Web: enhancing web accessibility for autistic users
Digital environments can present significant barriers for autistic users, particularly where information overload, visual complexity, and distracting content affect accessibility. This project explores how technology can be used to create a more inclusive online experience.
Led by Dr Shereen Sharaan in collaboration with global technology group e& and autistic individuals in the UAE, Wider Web is a free, open-source browser extension designed to make the web more accessible for autistic users. Accessibility features include disabling pop-up ads and video autoplay, personalised colours and fonts, hover-to-view content, and an AI summariser.
Independent evaluation, conducted in collaboration with Special Olympics UAE and funded by the University of Birmingham and Emirates College for Advanced Education, found that the Wider Web (desktop version, 2023) significantly improved web accessibility for autistic individuals, providing a supportive environment for learning, studying, and online communication.
Following these findings, e& invested in developing a mobile version of the extension in 2024. The project contributes to research on inclusive digital design and accessible technology, demonstrating how evidence-based innovation can support greater digital inclusion.
It is amazing how this single extension addresses aspects of autism awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and empowerment. The web can easily become overwhelming to many web users on the autism spectrum. Technologies like 'Wider Web' can empower autistic users to experience the web in a way that caters to their individual sensory and information processing needs.
Early childhood development in Abu Dhabi
Early childhood experiences play a critical role in shaping long-term health, wellbeing and educational outcomes. This project investigates the relationship between lifestyle factors and childhood obesity, attention, social development, and academic outcomes in Abu Dhabi.
The mixed-methods study is a cross-campus collaboration between researchers from the School of Psychology and the School of Education, led by Dr Rasha Bayoumi (Dubai) and Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz (Edgbaston). This £100,000 project forms part of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA)'s wider AED 6.65 million investment in research to enhance early childhood development (ECD) across the Emirate.
The findings will contribute to a stronger evidence base for early years policy and practice, supporting interventions that improve outcomes for children and families throughout Abu Dhabi.
Related academics
Dr Shereen Sharaan
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Research interests include autism, neurodiversity, digital accessibility, language and communication, wellbeing, and inclusive technology.
Dr Aytac Karabay
Assistant professor
Research interests include cognitive neuroscience, attention, working memory, perception, and experimental psychology.
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