Dr Julie Ross (SFHEA, AMBDA, ADSHE QA)

Lecturer in Dyslexia, SpLD tutor

Biography

Background

I have a broad range of experience that reflects my interest in advocacy for inclusion and social justice in education. As a result, I have undertaken a variety of different roles in both further and higher education, including lecturer, curriculum manager, researcher, project manager and dyslexia specialist.

 

My PhD, which I undertook whilst lecturing in HE, focused on the role of the artist as a cultural intermediary for social and environmental change. Subsequent post-doctoral research / project management centred around creating opportunities for equality, diversity and inclusion in the creative industries and in art and design education. Later in my career, intrigued by the links between dyslexia, neurodiversity and creative thinking, I studied part-time and became a dyslexia specialist and assessor with qualified teacher status enabling me to work with both children and adults.

 

I am particularly interested in neurodiversity, creativity and creative problem solving; design thinking approaches and visual methods in teaching and research; positive dyslexia; understanding intersectionality in relation to neurodiversity; and the benefits of specialist one to one tuition for dyslexia and co-occurring specific learning differences.

 

Qualifications

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy/Advance HE (SFHEA)

Post Graduate Diploma in Dyslexia and Literacy (with Qualified Teacher Status)

PhD The Role of the Artist in Environmental Change: an investigation into collaborative, interactive  and participative art practice in organisational contexts

Cert Ed (FE and HE)

Post Graduate Diploma in Sculpture

BA Hons Fine Art

Responsibilities & affiliations

Member of the British Dyslexia Association Accreditation Board

Member of Cross Party Group on Dyslexia at the Scottish Parliament

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy/Advance HE (SFHEA)

Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) (registered with the BDA as a specialist teacher)

Professional Quality Assured Member of the Association of Dyslexia Specialists in Higher Education (ADSHE)

Full Membership of the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS)

Professional Member of Dyslexia Scotland 

Member of Professional Assessors for Specific Learning Difficulties Scotland (PASS)

Postgraduate teaching

Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyslexia 

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder and Dyslexia

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Past research interests

Project Co-ordinator for the regional aspect of a national widening access project supported by the Scottish Funding Council - Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES). Senior researcher for a European Design Training Incubator, EU Leonardo Project which provided a comprehensive survey of design training and education in Europe and development of parity in qualifications across the design profession. An evaluation of the impact that Aberdeen City Council’s Participatory Art Projects has had on the health and well-being of its client groups. Project Manager of Creative Cultures Scotland, a European Social Fund project that aimed to offer support and encourage development of employment opportunities within the creative industries. AHRC funded project entitled ‘On The Edge: A New Articulation of the Sustainability of Contemporary Art Projects’ - providing research on the socio-economic value of ‘On the Edge’ collaborative projects in rural contexts.

Knowledge exchange

Recent Presentations

2023 Presentation to Dyslexia Scotland SE. Dyslexia in Higher Education  

2023 Presentation at Dyslexifest. Positive Dyslexia, Creativity and Visual Thinking 

2022 Presentation to the Cross Party Group - Dyslexia, Scottish Parliament. HE- Diagnostic Assessment and the Student Journey

2017 Designed and hosted  a Dyslexia and Maths Symposium for dyslexia specialists  (ADSHE), Maths Advisers (Sigma) and Disability Advisers in HE, University of Aberdeen

2015 Presentation on Dyslexia and the ‘Bigger Picture’ to Dyslexia Scotland North East 

2014 Presentation on Dyslexia and Transition from School to University at the Scottish Effective Learning Advisors’ Forum

2011 Presentation on Metacognition and Dyslexia to Dyslexia Scotland.

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