BSc.(Hons); PhD

Research and Projects Interests

I am the co-director of the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) , School of Education.  In that role I co-ordinate the research within the centre.  I have broad research interests around the social and educational inclusion of visually impaired people, and this specifically includes:

• Visually impaired people's views and circumstances
• Education and visual impairment
• Various aspects of reading and visual impairment
• Research methods.

I am co-editor of the British Journal of Visual Impairment

Recent and current research grants include:

• Network 1000 Phase 1 and Phase 2 – the circumstances and opinions of visually impaired people in Great Britain (Vision 2020 UK, BLF).  Role: PI.
• The needs of people with acquired hearing and sight loss (Thomas Pocklington Trust).  Role: Joint-PI.
• The comparison of visually impaired people’s circumstances to those of the sighted population (RNIB).  Role: PI.
• Steps to Independence – the mobility and independence needs of visually impaired children and young people (DfES, RNIB, Opsis, GDBA).  Role: PI.
• Braille and pharmaceutical packaging (consortium through RNIB and European Standards Organisation).  Role: PI.
• Non-medical eye clinic support services (Thomas Pocklington Trust).  Role: PI.
• Educational inclusion of children with visual impairment in developing countries (Sightsavers International).  Role: advisor.

Teaching Interests

My main teaching activities are in the area of research methods training for research students.  The teaching particularly focusses upon methods of data collection and analysis.  I also supervise doctoral research students working in the area of visual impairment in particular and disability and SEN in general.

Publications (selection)

Pavey, S., Douglas, G., and Corcoran, C. (2008).  Transition into adulthood and work – findings from Network 1000.  British Journal of Visual Impairment, 26 (2): 202-216.

Evans, S. and Douglas, G. (2008).  E-Learning and Blindness: A comparative study of the quality of an E-learning experience.  Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, February: 77-88.

Douglas, G., Corcoran, C, and Pavey, S. (2007).  The role of the WHO ICF as a framework to interpret barriers to inclusion: visually impaired people’s views and experiences of personal computers. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 25(1): 32-50.

Douglas, G., Corcoran, C., Pavey, S. (2006).  Network 1000.  Opinions and circumstances of visually impaired people in Great Britain: Report based on over 1000 interviews. Birmingham: Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research, School of Education, University of Birmingham (mimeo).  ISBN 0704426048/9780704426047.

Douglas, G., and McLinden, M. (2005). Visual Impairment.  In: A. Lewis, A.  and Norwich, B. (eds.) Special Teaching for Special Children? Pedagogies for Inclusion.  Open University Press: 256.  ISBN: 0335214053.

Douglas, G., Grimley, M., McLinden, M., and Watson, L.  (2004).  Reading errors made by children with low vision.  Ophthalmic and physiological optics, 24 (4): 319-322.  ISSN 0275-5408

Publications 2001 - 2008 [complete, pdf]