Professor Jill Bradshaw CertMRCSLT

Professor Jill Bradshaw

School of Social Policy and Society
Professor of Communication, Health and Social Care

Contact details

Address
Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Jilll Bradshaw is a leading academic in the field of communication and intellectual disabilities.

Qualifications

PhD, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2008

BSc (Hons) Clinical Communication Studies, City University, London, 1992

Certified Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, 1992

Biography

Jill trained as a Speech and Language Therapist at City University.  She worked with adults with intellectual disabilities in social care settings before going to work at Tizard Centre, University of Kent.  She was initially employed as a teaching fellow, before moving to a lectureship in 1998.  Following an extended career break (2003-2013) she returned to Tizard Centre in 2013.  She was appointed as Senior Lecturer in 2017, Reader in 2022 and Professor in 2023.  In 2022 she became Co-Director of the Tizard Centre.

Jill joined the Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute in 2025.  Jill has always continued to work clinically and was appointed as National Adviser (Learning Disabilities) by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in 2021 and as a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist in 2022. 

Research

Jill is particularly interested in supporting good communication for people with intellectual disabilities who have the most complex communication needs.  Her research is mainly funded by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Manktelow, N, Taylor, EL, Thompson, PA, Flynn, S, Bradshaw, J, Gore, N, Cooper, V, Grant, G, Gillespie, D, Schroeder, EA, Langdon, PE, Liew, A, Lovell, M, Thomas, L, Petrou, S, Richards, C, Seers, K & Hastings, RP 2026, 'Co-production within community-based services for children with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge in England', Tizard Learning Disability Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-07-2025-0020

Vostanis, A, Payne, OD, Cox, A & Bradshaw, J 2026, 'Precision Teaching to Develop Key Word Sign Skills in Practitioners in Intellectual Disability Services: A Proof-of-Concept Study', Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID, vol. 39, no. 1, e70188. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70188

Martin, P, Thorpe, P, Ware, J, Goldbart, J, Denovan, A, Dagnall, N & Bradshaw, J 2025, 'Academic progress in learners with profound intellectual disabilities: analysis of a Routes for Learning dataset', European Journal of Special Needs Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2025.2524972

Limbu, B, Deb, S, Bradshaw, J, Cooper, V, Allgar, V, Vindrola, C & Fullerton, M 2025, 'A Feasibility Cluster RCT Involving SPECTROM Staff Training Program to Help Reduce the Overmedication of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities', Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2025.2501540

Newton, H, Johnston, E, Gore, N, Williams, CA, Totsika, V & Bradshaw, J 2025, 'A service evaluation of Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS): Comparing online versus in-person group outcomes', BJPsych Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10181

Sutherland, D, Griffin, J, Austin, D, Bjornstad, G, Bradshaw, J, Charles, M, Cooper, V, Divers, J, Evans-Jones, K, Foxwell, S, Gore, N, Minhas, S, Penfold, I, Singh, G & Hastings, R 2025, 'Developing guidance on co-producing research with family carers of people with learning disabilities', Tizard Learning Disability Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-12-2024-0040

Rivard, M, Boulé, M, Morin, M, Abouzeid, N, Chatenoud, C, Morin, D, Mello, C, Gore, N, Bradshaw, J & Hastings, R 2025, 'Early positive approaches to support for family carers of young children with developmental disabilities: adaptation and piloting in Quebec public services', Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences, vol. 6, 1627502. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2025.1627502

Bradshaw, J, Whelton, B, Beadle‐Brown, J, Richardson, L & Leigh, J 2025, 'Exploring Staff Perceptions and Experiences in Services Providing Different Levels of Active Support', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70047

Cavanagh, DE, Caton, S, Rawles, J, Hatton, C, Hastings, RP & Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study Team 2025, 'Living Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experiences of People With Profound and Multiple Intellectual Disabilities Through a Family Carer Lens', Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID, vol. 38, no. 4, e70088. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70088

Murphy, M, Gore, N & Bradshaw, J 2025, 'Self-determination and positive behavioural support', International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 15-25. <https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/bild/ijpbs/2025/00000015/00000002/art00004>

Limbu, B, Deb, S, Bradshaw, J, Cooper, V, Allgar, V & Fullerton, M 2025, 'Short-Term PsychoEducation for Carers to Help Reduce the Over Medication of People with Intellectual Disabilities Programme Development Project (SPECTROM PDP): A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol', Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2025.2471289?src=

Deveau, R & Bradshaw, J 2025, 'Staff feedback within an acute mental health hospital: a qualitative interview study', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 16, 1644734. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1644734

Limbu, B, Deb, S, Bradshaw, J & Cooper, V 2025, 'The Effect of SPECTROM Training on Support Staff Knowledge of Psychotropic Medicine and Attitude Towards Behaviours That Challenge in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities to Help Implement the STOMP Initiative', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.13236

Gillooly, A, Thompson, P, Bradshaw, J, Caton, S, Hatton, C, Jahoda, A, Kelly, R, Maguire, R, Oloidi, E, Taggart, L, Todd, S, Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study Team & Hastings, R 2025, 'The Mental Health and Well-Being of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the UK: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Analysis', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70006

Other report

Limbu, B, Deb, S, Bradshaw, J, Cooper, V, Allgar, V, Vindrola-Padros, C & Fullerton, M 2025, Short-term Psycho-Education for Carers To Reduce Over Medication of people with intellectual disabilities: Programme Development Project (SPECTROM PDP). NIHR Open Research. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.1115262.1

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