Professor Laura Crane

Professor Laura Crane

School of Education
Professor of Autism Studies
Director of Research, School of Education
Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER)

Contact details

Email
l.crane@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Education
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor Laura Crane is Chair in Autism Studies at the University of Birmingham, where she is Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) and Director of Research for the School of Education. Professor Crane previously held the post of Professor of Autism Research and Education at University College London (UCL), where she retains an Honorary Professorship.

A leading authority on participatory autism research, Professor Crane champions approaches that involve autistic people and those who support them as active partners in research. Her leadership in this area has been recognised through multiple awards, including a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award (2017), the charity Autistica’s inaugural Community Engagement Award (2018), and a UCL Provost’s Prize for Public Engagement (2018).

Professor Crane’s research spans the field of education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited two books. In 2025, she was named one of Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers, reflecting the significance and influence of her work. She has secured over £2 million in research funding across more than 25 grants as principal or co-investigator and she regularly shares her findings with academic and community audiences worldwide.

Professor Crane is committed to ensuring that her research makes a genuine and meaningful difference to autistic people and those who support them, and she regularly advises policy makers on how best to support autistic people. In 2025, Professor Crane served as Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords Committee on the Autism Act 2009, contributing to recommendations for the forthcoming national autism strategy.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Psychology, 2010
  • MSc in Research Methods in Psychology, 2006
  • BSc (Hons) in Psychology, 2005

Biography

Professor Crane completed her BSc (2005), MSc (2006) and PhD (2009) in Psychology at the University of London.

Following completion of her studies, Professor Crane undertook a range of research and teaching roles at various London-based universities. In 2017, she was appointed as Associate Professor at University College London (UCL) Institute of Education, based within the UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE). She was promoted to Professor of Autism Research and Education in 2023.

In 2024, Professor Crane moved to the University of Birmingham’s School of Education, based within the Department for Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN). She was appointed to the role of Chair in Autism Studies and Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER).

Teaching

Professor Crane teaches on the MA Inclusion distance learning programme, where she leads a module on the Educational Needs of Autistic Children and Young People.

Postgraduate supervision

Professor Crane has a sustained track record of doctoral student completions and has been awarded Recognised Research Supervisor status from the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) as a marker of high-quality supervisory practices. Professor Crane is an experienced examiner of postgraduate research students having examined over 35 doctoral theses, both nationally and internationally.

Please note that Professor Crane is not currently accepting applications from prospective doctoral students, as she is at full capacity.

Other activities

  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2023
  • UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor, 2021
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2020

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Eadon, L, Peruzzo, F & Crane, L 2026, 'Active learning for autistic learners: enabling or disabling?', Active Learning in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874261429882

Cooper, K, VanDaalen, R, Burnley, A, Allain, L, Beresford, B, Crane, L, Islam, L, Morales, MV, Portway, L, Redmayne, B, Russell, A & Mandy, W 2026, 'Assessing the feasibility of a co-produced peer-group intervention for supporting wellbeing during the transition to adulthood among autistic 16–25-year-olds (ATAG): a randomised controlled feasibility trial', EClinicalMedicine.

Halsall, J, Robinson, E, Cook, A, Halsall, A & Crane, L 2026, 'Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them', Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251414302

Linden, A, Norbury, C, McCabe, M, Saul, J, Killick, E, Sam, E, Dufresne, S, Elise, F, Gurusamy, K & Crane, L 2026, 'Language interventions for autistic people: an online survey of community member views and priorities', JCPP Advances.

Pender, R, El Baou, C, O'Nions, E, Spector, A, Buckman, JEJ, Richards, M, Pilling, S, John, A, Stott, J, Saunders, R, Crane, L & Mandy, W 2026, 'Symptom change in depression and anxiety during psychological therapy for autistic adults', Nature Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00567-4

Fletcher-Watson, S, Joseph, H, Crane, L, Pavlopoulou, G, Lukito, S, Funnell, E, Alcorn, AM & Crompton, C 2025, 'Applied Principles for Inclusive Practice in Neurodevelopmental Research: A Selection and Report of Illustrative Case Studies', Current Developmental Disorders Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-025-00318-1

Gallagher, L, Crane, L, Dineen, T, Ibrahim, N, Mulryan, N, Bolshakova, N, Harris, A, O'Rourke, L & Pellicano, E 2025, 'Examining the barriers and facilitators to service provision for autistic people in Ireland: a survey of psychiatrists', The Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2025.9

Robinson, E & Crane, L 2025, 'Examining the impact of drama-based sessions on the social emotional well-being of Autistic pupils in a special school: a multi-informant qualitative study', British Journal of Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.70000

Cresswell, H & Crane, L 2025, '“I think your child might be autistic”: A qualitative survey study examining how school staff broach initial interactions with parents whose children may be autistic', British Journal of Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.70067

Scheeren, AM, Nieuwenhuis, S, Crane, L, Roke, Y & Begeer, S 2025, 'Masking, social context and perceived stress in autistic adults: An ecological momentary assessment study', Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251353358

Chan, MY, Han, E & Crane, L 2025, 'Preschool and Primary School Teachers’ Understanding and Awareness of Identifying and Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Singapore', International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2024.2448432

Dexter, S, Remington, A, McAuley, R, Gross, J, Culmer, K, Littlebury, N & Crane, L 2025, 'Special school staff perspectives on how careers guidance is provided to their autistic young people', British Educational Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4169

Abstract

Cristescu, L, Crane, L, Thalia, K & Misca, G 2025, 'Autism and military-connected families: A scoping research review', Meeting the needs of UK Active Duty Armed Forces Families at a time of geo-political uncertainty, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 14/11/25 - 14/11/25.

Review article

Boyle, L, Perepa, P, Thalia, K & Crane, L 2026, 'Autism in Viet Nam: a Systematic Scoping Review', Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261425838

Richards, N, Pellicano, E, Han, E, Spiegler, J & Crane, L 2026, 'Transition Out of School for Autistic Young People: An Umbrella Review', Review of Educational Research.

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

Autism; special education