Researcher Details |

Elizabeth Mathews

Contact Details

F310
T:Ext. 9064

E:Elizabeth.Mathews@dcu.ie

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]

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	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