Dr Aikaterini (Katrina) Tavoulari

Dr Aikaterini (Katrina) Tavoulari

Department of Management
Lecturer

Contact details

Email
a.tavoulari@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@KateInclusiveEd
Address
Business School
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Tavoulari is an early-career academic specialised in disability, ableism and social stigma, with a focus on vision impairment and repetitive behaviour. She has a strong interest in interdisciplinary projects with regard to disability and business area, and uses qualitative as well as mixed methods research.

You can follow Aikaterini on her website and on LinkedIn

Qualifications

  • Postdoc in career destinations, Research Management and Innovation, King's College London, UK; (MRA-23/24-39878)
  • Postdoc in vision impairment, Psychology Department, University of Bath, UK; (RE-PS1254) (Audio book and Press release)
  • PhD: “Disability, attitudes and stigma in Greek society”: exploring the perceptions of caregivers and professionals regarding the repetitive behaviour of children with vision impairment and children on the autism spectrum (a comparative study)
    University of Birmingham, UK
  • MA (Distin) in Social Discriminations & Human Rights – Disability, Inclusion & Special Needs,  University College London, UK; National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece   
  • BA (Hons) in Childhood & Early Childhood Education, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
  • Diploma (Hons) in Orff method & Classical Piano; National Conservatoire of Athens, Greece

Biography

Dr. Aikaterini (Katrina) Tavoulari is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and a Chartered Disability Practitioner with the National Association of Disability Practitioners. She brings over 21 years of interdisciplinary clinical psychology experience, including leadership in specialist disability education in Greece, clinical work at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, and lecturing in disability studies, vision impairment, psychology, qualitative methodology, and business at University College London and Birmingham Business School. She has also collaborated with the Universities of Oxford and East London.

Katrina completed postdoctoral tenures at the University of Bath and King’s College London and currently serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. She will begin her NIHR DSE Fellowship in December 2025, where she will advance accessibility in vision impairment and depression, and challenge ableism through participatory research. Her community-based research has been supported by GW4, the British Academy, UNICEF, and she has also partnered with RNIB, Guide Dogs UK, Retina UK, Angel Eyes, and Research England. Research impact is a key priority for her, both nationally (e.g., “Goal for All” Goalball Event, 2024) and internationally (e.g., invited by the Association of Parents, Guardians & Friends of People with Autism ‘Anemoni’ and Agrinio Medical Council in Greece to support an anti-ableistic paediatric hospital environment, 2025).

Teaching

Dr Tavoulari has been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) since 2022.

  • 2025: King's Undergraduate Research Fellowship; Centre for Research Staff Development, King’s College London, UK
  • 2024: Level 2 - MSc Applied Clinical Psychology Dissertations; Psychology Department, University of Bath, UK 2023-24: Level 1 - Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Scheme; Psychology Department, University of Bath, UK
  • 2024: Level 1 – Seminar: ”Doing thematic analysis” on Module: “Psychology Research Methods and Design 1, Psychology Department, University of Bath, UK
  • 2021-23: Level 1 & 2 – University of Birmingham School of Education- Seminars: "Introduction to Developmental Psychology", "Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology."

Birmingham Business School- BSc Management seminars: “Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Disability in the Workplace”, “Management Education & Learning”, “Decolonising the Business School”, “Event & Festival Management”, “International Brand Management, and Public Relations & Reputation Management”, “Personal, Professional & Academic Development”, “Lego Serious Play”.

  • 2021-22: Level 1 - Institute of Education, Social Research Institute, University College London, UK

Seminars on “Uncertainty in Contemporary Society: A Psychosocial Approach to Wellbeing” module

  • 2019, 2022: Level 1 - “The Birmingham Project”

University of Birmingham, UK

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Tavoulari provides supervisory support to undergraduate and master-level students.

Research

  • Vision Impairment (Accessibility and Life transitions)

  • Community-based participatory research

  •  Ableism & Social Stigma

  •  Disability

Other activities

  • 2024-today: External examiner for MA and PGCert Special Education courses, University of East London, UK
  • 2024-today: Journal Reviewer, Children and Youth Services Review (Elsevier), UK
  • 2023-today: Social Media Coordinator, OPEN For Vision Impairment Research
  • 2019-2023: Social Media Coordinator, Children & Childhood Network (CCN), University of Birmingham, UK
  • 2018-today: Journal Reviewer, i-Teacher Journal, Greece
  • 2015-today: Journal Reviewer, Neos Paidagogos Conference, Greece

Publications

Peer-reviewed Publication List

Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M., Parry, F., Petrini, K. (2025). Inclusive event design: Breaking down barriers, building up opportunities for youth with vision impairment, Disability and Society [awaiting publication]

Egbetokun, A., MacGlone, U., McKeon, E., Newman-Griffis, D., Sedgwick, C., Tavoulari, A. (2025). The labour of thought: reflections on interdisciplinarity in practice, Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, pp.33-50

Roberts-Mills, W., Richardson, M., Scheller, M., Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M., De Sousa, A. (2024). Participant permanence: Exploring experiences of research involvement in UK adults with vision impairment, British Journal of Visual Impairment, pp.1-16

Tavoulari, A. & Perepa, P. (2024). Understanding of repetitive behaviours in the fields of vision impairment and autism: A narrative literature review, British Journal of Visual Impairment, pp.1-14

Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M., Petrini, K. (2024). “Facilitating transitions: Guiding principles for community-based tool and app development for youth with vision impairment”, AVA Spring Meeting 2024, Loughborough University: Sage, pp.1-6
(DOI: 10.1177/20416695241249584)

Tavoulari, A., Filianou, M. (2020). “An Orff-Schulwerk program for toddlers with partial or total vision loss” [In Greek]. Proceedings of the 4th Pan-Hellenic Congress of Special Education: “Modern trends & suggestions in special education”, Society of Greece Special Education/ Harokopio University, Scientific Volume D’. Greece: Readnet Publications (ISBN: 978-618-84140-9-9), pp.259-276.

Tavoulari, A., Papoudi, D. (2012). “The imitation ability of a child with autism: How is he responding? Which way? What kind of intervention?” [peer-reviewed; In Greek], in the research in special education, in inclusive education and in disability, Scientific Volume A΄. Athens: Pedio Publications, pp.193-210.

In-Prep Publication List

Papaioannou T., Di Mauro M., Tavoulari A., Voinescu A., Petrini K., Stanton Frazer D. New virtual reality tools for the rehabilitation of memory and attention in people with dementia and MCI: A feasibility study.

Tavoulari, A., Kidwai, J., Proulx, M., Petrini, K. Progress through engagement: A systematic review of community-based participatory research in vision impairment, targeted journal: Psychological Bulletin

Thomas, L.M., Cipriani, M., Leonardi, C., Tavoulari, A., Santelices, P., Petrini, K. Making portable the SOMA experience: Exploring Bodies, Materiality and Touch in Multi-Person Virtual Reality.

Accessible Audiobook & E-book
Petrini, K., Proulx, M., Tavoulari., A. (2024). Infinite world of Vision: Life transitions for young people with vision impairments ⠠⠧⠊⠎⠊⠕⠝⠀⠠⠊⠍⠏⠁⠊⠗⠍⠑⠝⠞; On Spotify (UK): https://open.spotify.com/show/4zbZatSInal85jmRqQse6f.

Under revision (submitted) Publication List

Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M., Petrini, K. Inclusive event design: Breaking down barriers, building up opportunities for youth with vision impairment, Disability and Society [Submitted July 2024]

Egbetokun, A., MacGlone, U., McKeon, E., Newman-Griffis, D., Sedgwick, C., Tavoulari, A. The labour of thought: reflections on interdisciplinarity in practice, Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal [Submitted January 2025]

Proceedings

Chapain, C., Evans, L., Tavoulari, A., Tran, M. (2020). “Enhancing inclusion and personal and professional development in Business education and learning using LEGO® Serious Play™”. BBS Learning and Teaching Conference. Birmingham: 17/9/2020.    

Anđelković, M., Vučinić, V., Tavoulari, A. (2017). Kvalitet života povezan sa stanjem vida kod dece uzrasta od tri do sedam godina (Quality of life associated with vison state in children from three to seven years old). In M. Filipović, B. Brojičin (Ed.), Proceeding from Eurlyaid Conference 2017, “Early Childhood Intervention: Meeting sustainable development goals of the new millennium” (pp.127-134). Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Faculty of special education and rehabilitation.

Deropoulou-Derou, E., Gelastopoulou, M., Kalogridi, V., Tavoulari, A. (2015): “Views and experiences of general and special preschool teachers, regarding the educational policy and the implementation of inclusive collaborative practices”. European Educational Research Association (EERA) (ISBN: 978-963-12-3169-4). Budapest: 7-11/9/2015

Tavoulari, A., Katsoulis P., Argyropoulos V. (2014). “Early intervention in Greece: Present situation and proposal for the future”. The 8th International Scientific Conference, Belgrade: 7-9/11/2014

Tavoulari A., Zeza M., Katsoulis P., Zafeira D., Skaltsouni A. (2013). “The use of smell and taste as an alternative perspective for teaching the blind and deaf blind students”. 8th ICEVI European Conference on Education and Rehabilitation of people with visual impairment, Istanbul: 30/6/2013-5/7/2013

Tavoulari, A., Papoudi, D. (2009). “The imitative response of a child with autism during structured activities of a researcher” (case study) [In Greek]. Proceedings of the 2nd Pan-Hellenic Congress of Special Education: “Special Education as a starting point of progress in Science and In Practice”, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens/ Faculty of Philosophy Pedagogy and Psychology/ Pedagogy Domain and Society of Greece Special Education, Grigoris, pp. 503-522

Posters

Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M., Petrini, K. (2024). Facilitating transitions: Guiding principles for community-based tool and app development for youth with vision impairment. Spring 2024 Applied Vision Association Meeting, Loughborough.

Stylidi, M., Tavoulari, A., Zeza, M., Katsoulis, P., Pasparaki, V. (2015). A post-earthquake school evacuation for blind, MDVI and deaf-blind students - Universal design of way finding and cognitive maps using multi-sensory signs. International Conference on Enabling Access for Persons with Visual Impairment, International Council for Education and Rehabilitation of People with Visual Impairment Europe Union (ICEVI EUROPE), National & Kapodistrian University of Athens/ Department of Informatics and Telecommunications/ Speech and Accessibility Laboratory

Tavoulari, A., Papoudi, D. (2010). From the autistic child to the autistic adolescent: The contribution of the paediatric [In Greek]. 3rd State of The Art Adolescent Medicine Course, European Board of the International Association for Adolescent Health, European Pediatric Association, Greek Education Society for Prevention and Health Education, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Greek Pediatric Society, Greek Company of Adolescent Medicine.