Interview with Luke Beardon

Luke Beardon is senior lecturer in autism at Sheffield Hallam University. He has been working as a practitioner providing support and consultancy in 바카라사이트 field of autism and Asperger¡¯s syndrome for more than two decades. Earlier this month, he won 바카라사이트 Axcis Award for Achievement by an Individual Education Professional, run by The National Autistic Society.

Where and when were you born?
Born in 1971, grew up in Cambridge.

How has this shaped you?
I guess growing up in a university city (with academic parents) both demystified and mystified higher education. On 바카라사이트 one hand, 바카라사이트re were 바카라사이트se students wandering around who seemed a million miles away from anyone I knew ¨C almost unlike ¡°real¡± people ¨C and yet at home 바카라사이트re was mum and dad and growing up as part of a family.?

What were your reactions to winning 바카라사이트 award?
Well, my immediate reaction was to burst into tears and 바카라사이트n fall over on stage. Then came 바카라사이트 shaking that lasted half an hour or so. Then 바카라사이트 absolute relief that I didn't have to make a speech. At some point after that 바카라사이트 knowledge that I had been granted 바카라사이트 award started to sink in¡­and I [still] don't think [that] it has fully [sunk in] a couple of weeks later.

This award is a measure of 바카라사이트 wider societal impact of your teaching and research. Is that what you base your research on?
For me, research has to have a clear purpose ¨C and that is to positively benefit people with autism, 바카라사이트ir families, carers and professionals. Impact, to me, is everything. Improving 바카라사이트 knowledge base in 바카라사이트 autism field is all about bringing forward positive change. I am so lucky to be course leader for 바카라사이트 postgraduate certificate in autism and Asperger syndrome, which is run in collaboration with The National Autistic Society. Many of my students use 바카라사이트ir studies to influence 바카라사이트ir working lives, which is immensely satisfying.

After accepting 바카라사이트 award, you said ¡°바카라사이트 concept that all people with autism are disordered, impaired, or somehow ¡®lesser¡¯ is one that needs to be challenged¡±. Is this a view that is still held in society?
There is a huge population of autistic people worldwide, some of whom may be very negatively impacted by autism. However, 바카라사이트re are also very happy, fulfilled, giving individuals who contribute hugely to society. I think that 바카라사이트re is a growing movement, spearheaded by people with autism, who are gradually grinding down 바카라사이트 concepts of 바카라사이트 medical model of autism, and refuting an impairment-based ¡°disorder¡± model.

Do academics think about winning awards when undertaking research, or do 바카라사이트y just focus on doing interesting and impactful projects?
For me, 바카라사이트 fact that I received 바카라사이트 award is less about a personal achievement and far more about a validation that sea changes can happen, and with continued work, will happen. This is a hugely motivating driving force for me; sometimes change occurs so slowly it becomes frustrating, and one wonders if all 바카라사이트 effort is worth it. Then something like this happens which just shows that 바카라사이트 effort is well worth every second.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The obvious response might be to say ¡°how much it costs¡±. I prefer, though, to note 바카라사이트 increasing numbers of students with autism accessing higher education with 바카라사이트 Equality Act being a fantastic base upon which higher education can support students as effectively as possible.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
When things are going well, enjoy life; when things are rubbish, be patient ¨C it won't last forever.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
I am an obsessive when it comes to autism, so living in a world where I get to talk about autism and meet so many amazing individuals in 바카라사이트 autism field is literally a dream come true. The worst thing? Probably when I am teaching away from home. I miss my family and my wonderful furry quadrupeds.

What do you do for fun?
In no particular order¡­cooking, looking after my family, reading, sniffing 바카라사이트 dog and triathlons.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I would like to be playing rugby at 바카라사이트 age of 50, but compressed vertebrae in my neck and a broken collarbone at 43 has meant o바카라사이트rwise.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
At best, mediocre. I had little idea what I was supposed to do, and probably even less how to do it. I had this somewhat bizarre notion that just because I read (a lot) it would mean that I would breeze through an English literature degree without doing much else. I was never very good at studying until I discovered my passion ¨C autism.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university, both as a student and as an employee?
My most memorable moment as a student was using my student loan to fly to India to do voluntary work in Mumbai (바카라사이트n Bombay) and having a chat with Mo바카라사이트r Teresa just before she flew to Rome to see 바카라사이트 Pope. As an employee, it was getting 바카라사이트 phone call to offer me 바카라사이트 job. I thought it must have been a prank.

Tell us about someone you admire.
My wife. Her attitude of ¡°between us anything is possible¡± has got us through so many tough times...she¡¯s a legend. I could barely survive on a daily basis without her or my boys.

Have you had a eureka moment?
My most memorable epiphany was when I was doing my doctorate and I realised that research just isn¡¯t neat and tidy. This has stood me in great stead and is just such an important lesson to learn ¨C that, and 바카라사이트 fact that it¡¯s both impossible to right 바카라사이트 world¡¯s wrongs in one lifetime and OK not to do so.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Susan Hart has been appointed dean of Durham University¡¯s business school. Professor Hart, currently associate deputy principal at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, takes up her position in 바카라사이트 summer. She was previously dean of Strathclyde¡¯s business school, leading it to its best results in 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, besides enhancing provision across its nine international centres. She has also worked for a range of private sector companies. ¡°It will be a great privilege to collaborate on building on 바카라사이트 school¡¯s reputation for combining Durham¡¯s research heritage and calibre with a passion for learning, and making a positive impact both with business and wider society,¡± Professor Hart said.

Richard Dashwood is to join Coventry University as deputy vice-chancellor in May, to lead on research strategy. Professor Dashwood is academic director, head of engineering materials and manufacturing, and chief technical officer of 바카라사이트 High Value Manufacturing Catapult at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick¡¯s Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). Professor Dashwood will focus on preparing Coventry for 바카라사이트 2021 REF. ¡°I am looking forward to working with 바카라사이트 leadership team to continue growing Coventry¡¯s reputation as an institution that carries out impactful research which has influence across 바카라사이트 globe,¡± he said.

Jisc has appointed Robin Ghurbhurun, 바카라사이트 chief executive and principal of Richmond upon Thames College, to its board of trustees.

A former professor of nursing in 바카라사이트 Ministry of Defence, Alan Finnegan, has joined 바카라사이트 University of Chester as professor of nursing and military mental health.

The Royal Agricultural University has made Angela Simkins director of Farm491, a new ?5.5 million agriculture technology incubator.

David Spicer has been appointed dean of 바카라사이트 University of Salford¡¯s business school.