Inclusive and Special Education

Undergraduate and postgraduate study in inclusive and special education can lead to exciting and rewarding career opportunities. At the University of Canterbury, College of Education, students can choose from a wide variety of course options in special education taught by nationally and internationally renowned academics.

The College of Education has offered courses in special education for over twenty five years. These courses are specifically designed to benefit individuals from a variety of backgrounds in either the education or health sectors.

Undergraduate qualifications

These awards may be of particular interest to teacher aides, behaviour support workers, and community service workers who wish to enhance their expertise in working with individuals with disabilities.

Graduate qualifications

Graduate Diploma in the Education of Students with Special Teaching Needs

The GradDipSTN is a one-year full-time qualification for early childhood, primary and secondary teachers. It is designed to prepare teachers to work effectively with children and young adults in inclusionary settings, school units, or as itinerant teachers. Each course includes a number of practical work requirements. Candidates must have a teaching diploma or degree or equivalent. Practical teaching experience is not necessary, but is preferable. Full-time and part-time options are available. Teachers can elect to do the course by attending lectures on-campus (after school hours) or by flexible delivery. Credit may be transferred to the MTchLn (subject to meeting admission criteria).

Postgraduate qualifications

The College of Education has an excellent variety of study and research options in special education. Students have the opportunity to be mentored by world leading professors and well known leaders in New Zealand special education. Professionals such as teachers, speech-language therapists, counsellors, and other educators or health workers with appropriate undergraduate qualifications may be eligible to pursue the following options:

We are very proud of our excellence in teaching and research at the University of Canterbury. We are deeply committed to providing you with a world class experience in advancing your knowledge and expertise. If you have an interest in inclusive and special education I would like to invite you to contact one of our leading academics to discuss your study options.

With best wishes

Professor Gail T. Gillon
Pro-Vice Chancellor
UC College of Education

Academics in the College of Education, University of Canterbury, with expertise and research interests in Inclusive and Special Education

Supervisor	Supervision Area
Professor Gail Gillon +64 3 364 2987 ext 44024 gail.gillon@canterbury.ac.nz	SPEECH-LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT – Professor Gillon is an international expert in childhood speech and language disorders. Her research focuses on the prevention of reading disorder for children at risk and the efficacy of phonological awareness interventions.
Professor John Everatt +64 3 364 2987 ext 4003 john.everatt@canterbury.ac.nz	DYSLEXIA – Professor Everatt is a leading international expert in the area of dyslexia with a particular interest in understanding dyslexia in languages other than English.
Professor Garry Hornby +64 3 364 2987 ext 4906 garry.hornby@canterbury.ac.nz	EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY – Professor Hornby’s interests in special education include: parent involvement; transition from school to adult life; theory and practice of including children with special needs in mainstream schools; children with mental health problems; and guidance and counselling.
Professor Niki Davis +64 3 364 2987 ext 44246 niki.davis@canterbury.ac.nz	E-LEARNING – Professor Davis is world renowned for her expertise in Information Communication Technology and e-learning in teacher education. Prof Davis is interested in exploring the use of e-learning to increase access to education and training for children and adults with disabilities.
Professor Angus Hikairo Macfarlane	MAORI RESEARCH – (Prof Macfarlane Commences at UC April 1) Professor Macfarlane proposes that a critical element of inclusive education is cultural connectedness. The thrust of his activities is concerned with the exploration of cultural concepts and strategies that affect positively on professional practice - in the classroom and in the community.
Associate Professor Kathleen Liberty +64 3 364 2987 ext 6545 kathleen.liberty@canterbury.ac.nz	LEARNING AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES – Professor Liberty has particular expertise in working with children with profound and severe disabilities. Her current research and teaching are in the areas of how health problems affect the learning by children with disabilities and in early intervention. Prof Liberty leads the Health Sciences Early Intervention Programme.
Dr John Church +64 3 364 2987 ext 6544 john.church@canterbury.ac.nz	APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS – Dr Church’s interests include children with conduct problems, children with learning disabilities, functional assessment, the design and evaluation of effective interventions, taking effective interventions to scale, the education and training of teachers, and experimental research methods.
Dr Baljit Kaur +64 3 364 2987 ext 6272 baljit.kaur@canterbury.ac.nz	DISABILITY STUDIES – Dr Kaur is interested in the critical study of socio-cultural, psychological and historical constructions of difference and disabilities. She has recently been investigating the reading acquisition and reading difficulties in several languages of India.
Dr Brigid McNeill +64 3 364 3469 ext 3469 brigid.mcneill@canterbury.ac.nz	CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH – Dr McNeill is a leading expert in intervention for childhood apraxia of speech. She has particular research and teaching interests in enhancing the educational achievement of children with speech, language, and literacy disorders and effective teaching strategies within the classroom setting.
Dr Missy Morton +64 3 364 2987 ext 44312 missy.morton@canterbury.ac.nz	INCLUSIVE EDUCATION – Dr Morton’s research and teaching interests include education and disability policy, and curriculum, pedagogy and assessment that promote belonging and learning for all students. She has been exploring the ways teacher education and teacher learning shape school experiences for teachers, students and their families.
Dr Kerry Purdue +64 3 364 2987 ext 44325 kerry.purdue@canterbury.ac.nz	EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – Dr Purdue, an expert in early childhood education, has particular interests in issues related to inclusion and exclusion of children with disabilities and their families in early childhood education.
Dr Dean Sutherland +64 3 364 2987 ext 7176 dean.sutherland@canterbury.ac.nz	ALTERNATIVE AND AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION – Dr Sutherland is a leading expert in the use of assistive technologies to support individual’s access to communication. His research interests include children with speech, reading and spelling disorders; children with Autism Spectrum Disorder; and the provision of support services for children with unique communication needs.
Dr Anna Wilson +64 3 364 2987 ext 44107 anna.wilson@canterbury.ac.nz	DYSCALCULIA – Dr Wilson is a cognitive neuroscientist with unique expertise in mathematical cognition and mathematical learning disabilities (dyscalculia). Her interests include the identification and remediation of dyscalculia. Her broader research programme is on “Mind, Brain and Education” – or the interaction between cognitive neuroscience research and educational practice.
Sue Bridges +64 3 364 2987 ext 44287 sue.bridges@canterbury.ac.nz	DEAF EDUCATION – Sue has particular expertise in working with Deaf and hearing-impaired students to support them and their lecturers in teacher education courses. Her interest in Literacy extends across various special need groups, within inclusive mainstream and special education settings.
Judy Bruce +64 3 345 8232 Internal Phone: 44232 judy.bruce@canterbury.ac.nz	ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY – Judy is interested in exploring ways that people with special needs may be included in sport and physical education opportunities. Additionally, Judy has vast experience working with students excluded from mainstream secondary school and advisers alternative education practitioners working in this field.
Alex Gunn +64 3 364 2987 ext 4929 alex.gunn@canterbury.ac.nz	DIFFERENCE, AND DIVERSITY – Focussing primarily on concepts of disability and sexualities, Alex's teaching and research seeks to identify and challenge barriers to participation in early childhood and early year’s settings.
Trish McMenamin +64 3 345 8214 ext 44214 trish.mcmenamin@canterbury.ac.nz	SPECIAL EDUCATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES – Trish’s teaching and research interests include special education practices and policies, inclusive education, curriculum, autism spectrum disorder, behaviour, disability and teacher education.
Gaye Tyler-Merrick +64 3 345 8380 gaye.tyler-merrick@canterbury.ac.nz	BEHAVIOUR AND LEARNING – Gaye has particular teaching and research expertise in behaviour, learning and early intervention. Her current research interests focus on the area of accurately identifying students with antisocial behaviour in the school setting.
Jenny Smith +64 3 3458274 jenny.smith@canterbury.ac.nz	GIFTED AND TALENTED – Jenny is a leading national expert in the field of the gifted and talented learning. Jenny is interested in enhancing the mainstream learning experience for the gifted learner with particular interest in early identification, social and emotional issues, and gifted boys experience of school.
Dianne Walker +64 3 345 8379 dianne.walker@canterbury.ac.nz	LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION – Dianne, a speech-language therapist, has particular expertise in working with secondary students who have language, literacy, and complex communication needs.
Lawrence Walker +64 3 345 8153 lawrence.walker@canterbury.ac.nz	ICT VIDEO TEACHING STRATEGIES – Lawrence is an experienced educator and lecturer in the area of working with students with learning and behavioural difficulties. His research interests include video self modelling and its application to children and adults with disabilities.