Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Passionate about addressing challenges faced by individuals with vision impairment, my focus in clinical psychology centres on combating ableist stigma and changing perceptions. Engaging in participatory research, I currently collaborate with young people living with vision impairment to co-create a unique tool for navigating critical life transitions. My interdisciplinary background is evident in diverse research contributions, from exploring sensory (use of smell and taste) utilization in the vision impaired, investigating repetitive behaviours in children with autism and/or vision impairment, to researching informal learning and development of the healthcare professionals under macro-turbulence. Methodologically, I mainly employ qualitative approaches as well as participatory research.
Teaching interests
After several years of teaching at the University of Birmingham (Business School, School of Education) and the University College London (Institute of Education), where I covered subjects related to disability in the workplace, vision impairment and marketing, as well as personal and professional development, and qualitative research in psychology, my current primary focus is on research.
Other responsibilities
With almost two decades of experience in disability support and educational psychology in Greece, including roles in private practice, public special schools, and leadership as headteacher at the Special Pre-Primary School for the Blind in Athens, my journey expanded to international contributions as an educational psychologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. This diverse background, synthesizing humanities, intervention, and rehabilitation, has propelled me into academia, where I am excited to apply my practical insights to benefit the academic community and upcoming professionals.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Bachelor of Music, Psychology (Orff method) & Classical Piano , National Conservatoire of Athens
Bachelor of Education, Childhood & Early Childhood Education , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Master of Arts, Social Discriminations & Human Rights – Disability, Special & Inclusive Education , University College London
Doctor of Educational Psychology, “Disability, attitudes and stigma in Greek society”: exploring the perceptions of caregivers and professionals regarding the repetitive behaviour of children with vision impairment and children on the autism spectrum (a comparative study), University of Birmingham
External positions
Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), British Psychological Society
Academic Tutor, University of Birmingham
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), University of Birmingham
External Examiner, University of East London
Editor, University of Oxford
Keywords
- BF Psychology
- Disability
- Vision Impairment
- Ableism
- Social Stigma
- Qualitative Research
- Participatory Design
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Explore sensory overload detection with biosensing wearables
Pham, N. (PI), Vigna, E. (CoPI), Tavoulari, A. (CoPI) & Zhang, R. (CoPI)
5/09/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research-related funding
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Today and tomorrow: living with vision impairment as a teenager in the UK
Petrini, K. (PI), Proulx, M. (CoI) & Tavoulari, A. (Researcher)
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
1/01/23 → 31/12/24
Project: UK charity
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Examining informal learning during crises: the case of UK healthcare practitioners
Tavoulari, A. (Researcher), Nyfoudi, M. (PI) & Waring, J. (CoI)
Project: UK charity
Research output
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Facilitating transitions: Guiding principles for community-based tool and app development for youth with vision impairment
Tavoulari, A., Petrini, K. & Proulx, M., 25 Mar 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
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Facilitating transitions: Guiding principles for community-based tool and app development for youth with vision impairment
Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M. & Petrini, K., 2024, p. 1-6.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Open Access -
Participant permanence: Exploring and enhancing experiences of research involvement in UK adults with vision impairment through an Online Participant Engagement Network (OPEN)
Robert-Mills, W., Richardson, M., Scheller, M., Tavoulari, A., Proulx, M. & de Sousa, A. A., 11 Oct 2024, (Acceptance date) In: British Journal of Visual Impairment.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Understanding of repetitive behaviours in the fields of vision impairment and autism
Tavoulari, A. & Perepa, P., 26 Sept 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: British Journal of Visual Impairment. 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -