Elizabeth Mathews

Dr

Contact Details


F310
T:Ext. 9064

E:Elizabeth.Mathews@dcu.ie
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Elizabeth is an assistant professor with the School of Inclusive and Special Education at DCU St. Patrick's Campus, where she specialises in the area of deaf education. She completed her MA in Deaf Education at Gallaudet University, Washington DC (2005) and her PhD with Maynooth University (2011).  Previously, she was the coordinator of the Deaf Education Centre in Cabra, Dublin, sat on the Board of Management of Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra and is currently the co-chair of the Education Partnership Group.  She is the project lead for the Irish Sign Language STEM Glossary Project along with a number of other research projects.  She has also designed and delivered a pathway into primary teaching for Deaf ISL-users.  Her recent research publications include work on power in the deaf education system, literacy and deafness, socio-emotional development of deaf children, life skills development in vulnerable deaf adults, and teacher self-efficacy.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2022 Ryan, A.;Mathews, E.S. (2022) 'Examining the highs and lows of teacher self-efficacy for special class teachers working with learners with Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder'. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 94 . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Mathews, E.S.;Cadwell, P.;O'Boyle, S.;Dunne, S (2022) 'Crisis interpreting and Deaf community access in the COVID-19 pandemic'. Perspectives: Studies in Translation Theory and Practice, . https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2022.2028873
2021 Ryan, A.;Mathews, E.S. (2021) 'Teacher self-efficacy of primary school teachers working in Irish ASD classes'. European Journal of Special Needs Education, . [Link] [DOI]
2021 Donnellan, L.;Mathews, E.S. (2021) 'Service providers’ perspectives on life skills and deaf and hard of hearing students with and without additional disabilities: transitioning to independent living'. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 36 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Patton, R. and Mathews, E. (2020) 'Principals’ Attitudes Towards the Suitability of Immersion Education for Children with Dyslexia'. TEANGA, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.35903/teanga.v27i.208
2020 Mathews, E. S. (2020) 'Sign of Equity: Accessing Teacher Education in Ireland'. Sign Language Studies, . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Mathews, ES;ODonnell, M (2019) 'Phonological decoding and reading comprehension in deaf and hard-of-hearing children'. European Journal of Special Needs Education, . [DOI]
2015 Mathews, Elizabeth S. (2015) 'Towards an Independent Future: Life Skills Training and Vulnerable Deaf Adults'. Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 15 (1). http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1225&context=ijass
2010 Mathews, E.S. (2010) 'No Sign Language if you want to get him talking”: Power, Transgression/Resistance, and Discourses of d/Deafness in the Republic of Ireland'. Population, Space and Place, 17 (4):361-376.

Book

Year Publication
2018 Elizabeth Mathews (2018) Language, Power, Resistance. Mainstreaming of Deaf Education. Washington DC: Gallaudet University Press.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2022 Mathews, E.S.;Ryan, A. (2022) 'Creating inclusive communities: Preparing the university for a cohort of Deaf-sign language users in initial teacher education' In: Diversifying the Teaching Profession: Dimensions, Dilemmas, and Directions for the Future. Oxfordshire : Routledge.
2012 Mathews, E. S. (2012) 'We got nothing…A big fat zero”: Levels of Awareness Theory and the Lived Experiences of Irish Mothers of Deaf Children' In: Working with the Deaf Community: Mental Health, Education and Interpreting. Dublin : Inter-Source Publishing Ltd.
2012 Mathews, E.S. (2012) 'Mainstreaming and the subjectification of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children' In: Educational diversity: the subject of difference and different subjects. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.
2010 Mathews, E.S. (2010) 'De/Re-institutionalising deafness through the mainstreaming of deaf education in the Republic of Ireland' In: Geographies of children, youth and families: an international perspective. London : Routledge.

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2006 Elizabeth Mathews (2006) Deaf Studies Today . In: Bryan K. Eldredge, Doug Stringham, and Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz eds. Place, space, and identity-- using geography in Deaf studies [Link]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2020 Mathews, E. S. (2020) International Congress on the Education of the Deaf Theorising the Power of (Re)Connection in Deaf Education Brisbane - Postponed (Covid-19), .
2019 Mathews, E (2019) AHEAD Annual Conference: Journey to Oz More than InterpreterProvision: Preparing for a cohort of deaf student teachers Dublin, .
2019 Mathews, E. S. (2019) Diversity in Teaching (DiT) Research Symposium More than Interpreter-Provision: Preparing for a Cohort of Deaf Student Teachers NUIGalway, .
2019 Mathews, E. S. & O'Donnell, M. (2019) European Conference on Literacy Phonological Decoding and Reading Comprehension among Deaf Children Copenhagen, .
2019 Mathews, E.S. (2019) Implementing the ISL Act & UNCRPD - Ensuring and sustaining the breakthrough The Limits of Law and the Possibilities of Practice Trinity College Dublin, .
2019 Mathews, E. (2019) Institute of Physics Ireland - A climate of Change Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, or Just a Very Windy Day: Making Environment Science Accessible through Irish Sign Language Athlone, .
2018 Mathews, E. (2018) Emerging Disability Issues Contesting hegemonic discourses of deafness: mainstreaming and the medicalisation of deaf education in Ireland Malta, .
2018 Mathews E. (2018) Australia New Zealand Conference of Educators of the Deaf Language, Power, Resistance: Mainstreaming Deaf Education in Ireland Adelaide - Australia, .
2018 Mathews E (2018) Language, Identity and Education in Multilingual Contexts Deaf Children and Heritage Language Programmes Dublin, 01/02/2018-03/02/2018.
2018 Mathews, E (2018) Multilingual Education in Linguistically Diverse Contexts Deaf Children and Heritage Language Immersion Programmes Malta, .
2018 Mathews, E. (2018) Literacy Association of Ireland Literacy Outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Dublin, .
2017 Mathews, E (2017) TEACHER EDUCATION POLICY IN EUROPE Initial teacher education for all: attracting, supporting and preparing a diverse student teacher population Limerick, .
2010 Mathews, E (2010) • Educational Diversity: Difference Matters and Matters of Difference Learning to be hearing: is the mainstream school a space for normalising deaf children? Newcastle-upon-Tyne, .
2010 Mathews, E (2010) Association of American Geographers “‘Scattered as we are and lost among the hearing’: The changing geographies of resistance in the Irish deaf education system Washington DC, .
2009 Mathews, E. (2009) Geographies of Education Conference Geographies of Education Conference Loughborough University, UK, .
2009 Mathews, E. (2009) Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education Conference (IATSE) Mainstreaming of deaf education in the Republic of Ireland. P St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
2009 Mathews, E. (2009) Association of American Geographers Annual General Meeting Learning to be hearing: is the mainstream school a space for normalising deaf children? Las Vegas, U.S.A, .
2008 Mathews, E. (2008) Association of American Geographers Annual General Meeting Co-organised double session entitled “Geographies of Disability: Contesting the Boundaries” with Dr. Louise Holt, University of Reading Boston, MA, .
2008 Mathews, E. (2008) Association of American Geographers Annual General Meeting ‘deaf’ or ‘Deaf’: Contesting boundaries between medicine and culture in mainstreamed deaf education in Ireland Boston, MA, .
2008 Mathews, E. (2008) European Society of Mental Health and Deafness Special Interest Group Meetings ’We got nothing … A big fat zero’: Family-centred diagnosis and immediate after-care in the Irish system Dublin City University, Dublin, .
2007 Mathews, E. (2007) Royal Geographical Society – Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference An Historicist Analysis of Mainstreaming Deaf Education in Ireland RGS, London, .
2007 Mathews, E. (2007) International Conference on Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Including Deaf Children in Dáil na nÓg: the case of citizenship for Deaf Young People in Ireland University of Reading, UK, .
2007 Mathews, E. (2007) Conference of Irish Geographers, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin Policy and Practice of Mainstreaming Deaf Education in Ireland: erasing deafness? St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
2007 Mathews, E. (2007) Association of American Geographers Annual General Meeting Policy and Practice of Mainstreaming Deaf Education in Ireland: an international comparative study San Francisco, .
2006 Mathews, E. (2006) Emerging New Research in Geographies of Health and Impairment Conference Flashing Doorbells: Ethnographic Research in the Deaf World University of London, London, .
2006 Mathews, E. (2006) Deaf Studies Today! Conference Space and Identity: Using geographical theory in the interpretation of Deaf Spaces Utah Valley State College, USA, .
2005 Mathews, E. (2005) Linguistics Department Presentation Series The challenges facing deaf education in Ireland: a need for desegregation Gallaudet University, Washington DC, .
2017 Mathews, E (2017) Educational Fractures and Futures Deaf Students at the Border: Immobilities and Deaf Teachers in the Republic of Ireland University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, .
2012 Mathews, E. (2012) Department of Children and Youth Affairs Colloquium, Department of Children and Youth Affairs Mainstreaming of deaf education in Ireland Dublin, .
2009 Mathews, E. (2009) Association of American Geographers Annual General Meeting Co-organised session entitled “Disability in Education: Geographies of Inclusion and Exclusion” with Amber Lee Boles Las Vegas, U.S.A, .
2010 Mathews, E. (2010) Global PhD & Researchers Colloquium on Disability, Law and Policy Mainstreaming of deaf education in Ireland, or the right to a congregated education Galway, .
2012 Mathews, E. (2012) Association of Higher Education Access and Disability Conference Proposal for access to initial teacher education for deaf people Dublin Castle, Dublin, .
2011 Mathews, E. (2011) Deafhear.ie Annual General Meeting Mainstreaming of deaf education in the Republic of Ireland: A brief qualitative overview Dublin, .
2010 Mathews, E. (2010) National Technical Institute of the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology Scattered as we are and lost among the hearing: The changing geographies of resistance in the Irish deaf education system Rochester, NY, USA, .

Published Report

Year Publication
2018 Mathews, E. S. & O'Donnell, M. (2018) Reading and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pupils in Mainstream Education. Catholic Institute for Deaf People; Chime; Irish Deaf Society, .
2011 Elizabeth Mathews (2011) Proposal for Access to Initial Teacher Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals. Catholic Institute for Deaf People, . [Link]

Guest Lectures

Year Publication
2011 Mathews, E. (2011) Mainstreaming of deaf education in the Republic of Ireland: Language, power, resistance. Guest lecturer, Centre for Deaf Studies Seminar Series, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin. GL

Seminar

Year Publication
2013 Mathews, E. (2013) Diverse policies, colliding concerns: The inclusion agenda and deaf people in Ireland. Panelist, ESRC Critical Diversities Seminar Series, University of Leeds, Leeds. SEM

Web Page

Year Publication
2014 Elizabeth Mathews; Alyssa Coffman (2014) deafeducation.ie. WEBP [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2022) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education Member -
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf Member -
Educational Studies Association of Ireland Member -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/09/2014 Teaching Hero Award National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning
01/01/2014 Presidents Research Award Institute of Technology, Tallaght
01/01/2013 Katharine Howard Foundation Parenting Support Initiative Katharine Howard Foundation
01/01/2013 The Ireland Funds Small Grants Round The Ireland Funds
01/01/2006 National Children's Strategy Postgraduate Research Scholarship Department of Children and Youth Affairs
01/01/2005 John and Pat Hume Postgraduate Scholarship National University of Ireland, Maynooth
01/01/2004 Fulbright Student Award Fulbright Association
01/01/2004 Dr. Mary L. Thornton Scholarship in Education National University of Ireland
01/01/2004 Travelling Studentship Prize National University of Ireland
01/01/2000 Entrance Scholarship National University of Ireland, Galway
01/01/2000 Scoláireacht Bhord na Gaeilge National University of Ireland, Galway

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Board of Management Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra 28/02/2017 -
Advisory Group to NCSE Secondary Analysis on GUI Data 01/02/2015 - 01/06/2016
Education Partnership Group The education partnership group is a consortium of the main service providers working in deaf education in the Republic of Ireland. 01/06/2011 -
Management Committee of Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin 01/01/2012 -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Institute of Technology, Tallaght Lecturer 01/10/2010 - 31/12/2015
Catholic Institute for Deaf People Coordinator - Deaf Education Centre 01/06/2011 - 31/01/2014

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
National University of Ireland, Galway Diploma
National University of Ireland Galway BA (Hons.)
Gallaudet University Masters in Education
Maynooth University PhD

Languages

Language Reading Writing Speaking
Irish
Sign Language (Irish) Functional
English Fluent Fluent Fluent

Enterprise Engagement

Year Engagement Type Client Description
2013 Continuous Professional Development/Training Deaf Education Centre Training of Irish Sign Language tutors in the Shared Reading Programme
2011 Invited talk/presentation Deafhear Mainstreaming of deaf education in the Republic of Ireland: A brief qualitative overview.
2013 Invited talk/presentation Centre for Deaf Studies, TCD Invited lecture as part of lecture series: Deaf education in Ireland: Changing times, time for Change. Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin.

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
Annual presentation/workshop to parents organised by Cork Deaf Association 2013, 2014, 2015

Media

Title Year Type Authors
Hands On Series 14 Programme 3 2009 Television interview/panel discussion RTÉ
Sign of the times for deaf pupils left out in the cold 2016 Newspaper article (Print) Graham Clifford
Programme 120, Deaf Education in Ireland 2011 Radio Interviews Seán Delaney

Research Interests

  • Deaf education, in particular educational attainment, social inclusion.
  • Teacher education, in particular for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind
  • Language acquisition, cognitive development and literacy in deaf children.
  • Inclusion/exclusion and belonging in the education system, in particular, intersectionality and marginality in education.
  • Geographies of education, in particular spatial inequalities in education, use of GIS as a research tool.
  • Power and resistance in the education system.
  • History of special and inclusive education, in particular Foucauldian analyses of same.

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Irish Sign Language STEM Glossary Project - National Expansion DCU PI 01/01/2021 31/12/2022
Irish Sign Language STEM Glossary Physics Extension DCU PI 01/06/2021 31/05/2022
Measuring Socio-Emotional Development in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children DCU PI 01/09/2019 31/08/2023
SignOn DCU Co-PI 01/01/2021 31/12/2023
Access to Initial Teacher Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Project lead 01/09/2017 30/04/2020
ISL STEM Glossary Phase 3 DCU PI 01/01/2020 31/12/2020
Irish Sign Language Glossary Project Phase 2: Environmental Science DCU PI 01/01/2019 31/12/2019
Irish Sign Language STEM Glossary Pilot Project DCU PI 01/01/2018 31/12/2018
Literacy Outcomes for DHH Children in Mainstream Primary Schools Co-PI 01/11/2015 01/09/2018
Shared Reading Programme Project lead 01/09/2014 30/08/2015
Shared Reading Programme Project lead 01/07/2012 30/06/2013
Life Skills and Vulnerable Deaf Adults PI (supervisor) 01/09/2014 31/08/2016
Mainstreaming Deaf Education (PhD) PhD Candidate 01/01/2006 31/12/2008
Mainstreaming Deaf Education (PhD) PhD candidate 01/01/2005 31/12/2007
Deaf Children in Gaelscoileanna PI 01/12/2016 01/11/2017

Contract Researchers

Researcher Name Project Funding Body
Margaret O'Donnell Literacy Outcomes for Deaf Children
Vasiliki Pitsia Literacy Outcomes for Deaf Children
Valerie Mahon ISL STEM Glossary Project
Janet O'Shaughnessy Literacy Outcomes for Deaf Children
Amy Ryan Psychosocial Development of Deaf Children
Hannah McLoughlin Psychosocial Development of Deaf Children
Shaun O'Boyle SignOn

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Mc Grotty ,Caroline Master of Arts Supervisor
Taylor ,Jeff Doctor of Education Supervisor

External Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
External AnnMarie Shier Dublin Institute of Technology Academic
External Dr. Margaret O'Donnell Independent Consultant Researcher Academic
External Prof Raschelle Neild Gallaudet University Academic

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests focus on Deaf Education, including the history of deaf education, changing models and discourses of deafness, educational attainment, literacy, and language acquisition and cognitive development in deaf children.  I have used my interest in deaf education to interrogate broader issues of education inequality and inclusion/exclusion, and diversifying teacher education.

I contribute to the following modules on the Bachelor of Education:
1. Major Specialism in Special and Inclusive Education SI201/202; 2. Collaborative Practice SI301;  3. Curriculum and Pedagogy SI302; 4. Special and Inclusive Education and Social Inclusion ED445.

I contribute to the following modules on the Graduate Diploma in Inclusion, Learning Support and Special Education:
1. Principles and Concepts SI701; 2. Assessment, profiling and Planning SI702; 3. Planning, Teaching and Learning for All; SI703 4. Learner Identity and Educational Implications; SI704 5. Collaboration and Leadership SI705; 6. Reflective Practice and Inquiry SI706.  I coordinate the assignment on Reflective Inquiry.

I contribute to the Masters in Special Educational Needs on the quantitative research methods module and by supervising students.



Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Learners who are Deaf/HH or Blind/VI SI709