Dr Nicola Martin

National Teaching Fellow 2015 Dr Nicola Martin has worked with disabled people in education for over 30 years in school and post compulsory education. She is currently Principal Lecturer leading on research and higher degrees in education and previously held leadership roles at the London School of Economics, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Derby and Lewisham College. She is highly qualified with British and American higher degrees and specialist postgraduate qualifications. She has studied and worked in America, India and New Zealand. Nicola's research interests and approach to teaching are driven by a commitment to equality and social justice in education. She is committed to emancipatory methodology and ensuring that narratives of marginalised people inform her teaching. Her academic area is Critical Disability Studies, with a focus on the requirements of students with autism. Nicola is an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge, working on autism research with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen. Her autism research is highly influential internationally. She is a Fellow at Sheffield Hallam and of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and has been a Visiting Professor at LSBU and Hong Kong Institute of Education. Current funded research focuses on disabled leaders and how people with autism view mentoring. She is currently supporting researchers who have autism to write for peer reviewed journals and was involved in consultations which framed the 2009 Autism Act. Nicola has made many media appearances. As Chair of The National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) for five years, Nicola was instrumental in developing the organisation to the point where it is the most influential of its kind in the world. The NADP promotes disability equality in post compulsory education and influences national policy. Nicola is very highly regarded in her field and frequently invited to present at conferences. She is a committed collaborator and fundamentally concerned with improving the student experience, making the sector as inclusive as possible and supporting colleagues. Nicola's main focus is on encouraging other people, especially those who have experienced disadvantage.