Department of Inclusive Education

Prof E Johnson

College of Education
School of Educational Studies
Department: Inclusive Education
Associate Professor
Tel: +27 12 481 2959
E-mail: johnse@unisa.ac.za

Expertise

  • Care and Support for learners with Intellectual Disability

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • MA (Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 2007, University of Pretoria
  • BA Hons (Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 2001, University of Pretoria
  • Further Diploma in Education: Remedial Teaching, 1996, South African College of Education
  • B Prim Ed (Senior Primary), 1987, University of Pretoria

NRF Rating

C2 NRF rating (since January 2021)

Currently teaching

  • IEA1501: Inclusive Education Approaches
  • MEDS2NB: Learner Support in an Inclusive Setting

Fields of academic interests

  • Inclusive education
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Curriculum differentiation
  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Early Intervention

Field of Specialisation

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Inclusive education
  • Severe disabilities
  • Pain Communication Pain communication: children with disabilities
  • mHealth

Books

Chapters (Last 5 years)

  1. Bornman, J., White, R., Johnson, E., (2022). What Accommodations Do Courts Provide for Abused Children with Communication Disabilities? A Legal Scoping Review," In "Child Abuse and Neglect
  2. Johnson, E. (2021). Supporting communication vulnerable children to communicate their pain. (Book chapter) DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93588 In V. Y. Waisundara (Ed) Pain Management ISBN 978-1-83880-897-6
  3. Johnson, E., & Muzata, K. K. (2019). Inclusive education – implementing Universal Design for Learning. In Banja M.K (Ed) Selected Readings in Education. ISBN: 978-9982-0394-6

Journal articles

PUBLICATIONS

Articles in peer-reviewed ISI-accredited journals

  1. Kuyler, A., Johnson, E & Bornman J. (2023). Support needs of familiar caregivers caring for persons who are minimally responsive: An ecological systems approach. The Journal of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

  2. Johnson, E, Van Zijl, K & Kuyler, A. (2023) Pain communication in children with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review. Paediatric and Neonatal Pain.

  3. Kuyler, A & Johnson, E (2023) Critical ill patient experiences of nursing care and the effect on patient personhood: A retrospective study Sage Open Nursing. 10, 6903-6911 https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1944 (impact factor: 1.97)

  4. Kuyler, A., Johnson, E & Bornman J. (2023). An umbrella review of systematic reviews: Characteristics of communication-partner training that facilitate learning in communication partners of adults with acquired neurological disorders. Canadian Journal of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, 47(2), 141-163 https://www.cjslpa.ca/detail.php?ID=1330&lang=en

  5. White, R, Johnson, E. & Bornman, J. (2023). Giving voice to the voices of legal practitioners with disabilities. Disability and Society, 38(8)1451-1475. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1997719 (ISI accredited: 1.12; WOS, IBSS)

  6. 6. Beard, D., Geertsema, S., Le Roux, M. & Graham, M.A., Johnson, E. (2023, early online). South African teachers’ attitudes towards working with learners with severe intellectual disabilities in schools for learners with special educational needs. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education

  7. Udeme S. Jacob, U. S., Pillay, J. Johnson, E., Omoya, O., Adedokun, A. P. (May 2023, early online). A systematic review of physical activity: benefits and needs for maintenance of quality of life among adults with intellectual disability. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 1-11 .doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1184946

  8. Dlamini-Masuku, K., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (May 2023, early online). Analysing

    Eswatini’s National Disability Policy Reforms: Access to healthcare implications for citizens

    with disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies

  9. Van der Mescht, P., Geertsema, S., Le Roux, M., Graham, M.A., & Johnson, E. (May 2023,

    early online) A survey of potential burden experienced by South African caregivers of

    children with severe intellectual disability. South African Journal of Childhood Education

  10. Dada, S, Tönsing, K. M., Bornman, J., Samuels, A., Johnson, E., Morwane, R. M. (2023). 

    The Sustainable Development Goals: A framework for addressing participation of persons with complex communication needs in South Africa. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-5 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17549507.2022.2143566

11. Kuyler, A., Johnson, E., Bornman, J. (15 July 2022, early online). Multi-modal communication strategies used by familiar caregivers to build communication capacity in persons who are minimally responsive. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2096926

12. Thunberg, G. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., Öhlén, J., & Nilsson, S. (2022) Being heard – moving from professional-centred to person-centred paediatric care using augmentative and alternative communication as universal design: A position-paper. Nursing Inquiry, 29(2), e12426. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12426

13. Johnson, E., Heyns, T., & Nilsson, S. (2022). Nurses’ perspectives on alternative communication strategies use in South African critical care units. Nursing in Critical Care, 27(1), 120-129 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/nicc.

14. Wiljén, A., Chaplin, J., Crine, W., Jobe, W., Johnson, E., Karlsson, K., Lindroth, T., Schwarz, A., Stenmarker, M., Thunberg, G., Öhlén, J., Nilsson, S. (2022) The development of an mHealth tool for children with long-term illness to enable person-centred communication: a user centred-design approach. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting.

15. Davis-Strauss, S.L., Johnson, E., Lubbe, W. (2022). Determining Post-Discharge Needs of South African Parents with Premature Infants. Infants and Young Children, 35(1), 40-53

16. Dlamini-Masuku, K., Bornman, J. & Johnson, E. (2021) “Convergence of experiences of persons with disabilities and caregivers; perceptions of policy makers and the provisions of the national disability policy: Implication for access to healthcare for persons with disabilities in Eswatini”. Chapter 7. African Disability Rights Yearbook 2021, 138-159

17. Kuyler, A., Johnson, E., Bornman, J. (2021 early online). Unaided communication behaviours displayed by adults with acquired neurological disorders and little to no functional speech: A scoping review. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12691

18. White, J., Johnson, E. & Bornman, J. (2021). Giving voice to the voices of legal practitioners with disabilities. Disability and Society, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1997719

19. White, R., Bornman, J., Johnson, E., & Msipa, D. (2021). Court accommodations for persons with severe communication disabilities: A legal scoping review. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication. 27(3), 399–420. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000289.

20. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (2021). Investigating court accommodations for persons with severe communication disabilities: Perspectives of international legal experts. p. 224–235 Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.779.

21. Wepener, C., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (2021). "Messaging *helps me to chat*: A South African case study exploring the affordances of mainstream mobile messaging for youth with complex communication needs". Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 37(2), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2021.1928284.

22. Davis-Strauss, S.L., Johnson, E., Lubbe, W. (2021). Information and Support Needs of Parents with Premature Infants: An Integrative Review. Journal of Early Intervention, 43(3), 199-220. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1053815120957734.

23. Thunberg, G. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., Öhlén, J., & Nilsson, S. (2 June 2021 early online) Being heard – moving from professional-centred to person-centred paediatric care using augmentative and alternative communication as universal design: A position-paper. Nursing Inquiry. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12426.

24. Johnson, E., Heyns, T., & Nilsson, S. (24 February 2021 Early Online). Nurses’ perspectives on alternative communication strategies use in South African critical care units. Nursing in Critical Care.

25. Karlsson, K., Johnson E., & Nilsson, S. (2021). The Children´s Action-Reaction Assessment Tool (CARAT) as an observational tool for assessing symptom management: An initial validation study with children aged 3-7 years undergoing needle procedures. Applied Nursing Research, 26, https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12334.

26. Kuyler, A. & Johnson, E. (2021). Patient and nurse content preferences for a communication board to facilitate dialogue in the critical care unit. Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, 63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2020.103005.

27. Mahakwe, G., Johnson, E., Karlsson, K, Nilsson, S. (2021) A systematic review of self-report instruments for the measurement of anxiety in hospitalized children with cancer. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1911

28. Nilsson, S., Wiljén, A., Bergquist, J., Chaplin, J., Höök, A., Johnson, E., Karlsson, K., Lindroth, T., Schwarz, A., Stenmarker, M., Thunberg, G., Fridh, E., Wille, J., Esplana, L., Haglind. M., & Öhlén, J. (2021). Evaluating pictorial support in person-centred for children (PicPecc) – A protocol for a crossover design study. BMJ Open, 11:e042726 https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/11/5/e042726.full.pdf.

29. White, R., Bornman, J., Johnson, E., Tewson, K. & van Niekerk, J. (2020). Transformative equality: Court accommodations for South African citizens with severe communication disabilities. African Journal of Disability. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v9i0.651.

30. Gropp, M., Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Koul, R. (2019) Nurses’ perspectives toward patient communication using a low technology communication board in an intensive care setting – a pilot study, Health South Africa Gesondheid, d 24(0), a1162. doi: 10.4102/ hsag.v24i0.1162.

31. Jansson, A., Martin, T. R. S., Johnson, E., & Nilsson, S. (2019). Healthcare professionals’ use of augmentative and alternative communication in an intensive care unit – a survey study. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 54, 64-70. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2019.04.002.

32. Johnson, E. Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (2019). How pain management for children with cerebral palsy in South African schools complies with up-to-date knowledge. African Journal of Disability. p 1-13. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v8i0.575.

33. Adolfsson, M., Johnson, E., & Nilsson, S. (2018) Pain management for children with cerebral palsy in school settings in two cultures: action and reaction approaches, Disability and Rehabilitation, 40:18, 2152-2162, doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1327987.

34. Johnson, E., Boshoff, K., Bornman, J. (2018). Scoping review of children’s pain vocabulary. Canadian Journal of Speech-language and Audiology. 41, (3), 55-69.

35. Johnson, E., Morwane, R, Dada,S., Pretorius, G., & Lotriet, M. (2018) Adult learners’ perspectives on their engagement in a hybrid learning honours programme at a South African university. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. doi: 10.1080/07377363.2018.1469071.

36. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (2018). Exploring factors that facilitate access to the criminal legal justice system for persons with complex communication needs. Acta Crimnologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 31(1), 19-34.

37. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Tönsing, K. M. (2017). Model for vocabulary selection of sensitive topics: an example from pain-related vocabulary. Seminars in Speech and Language, 38(4), 276–285. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1604275.

38. Bornman, J., White, R., Johnson, E., & Bryen, D. (2016). Identifying barriers in the South African criminal justice system: Implications for individuals with severe communication disability. Acta Crimnologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 29(1), 1–17. doi:org/reference.sabinet.co.za/document/EJC198539.

39. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Tönsing, K.M. (2016). An exploration of pain-related vocabulary: Implications for AAC use with children. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 32(4), 249–260. doi:10.1080/074346182016.1233998.

40. Nilsson, S., Johnson, E., & Adolfsson, M. (2016). Professionals’ perceptions about the need for pain management of children with cerebral palsy in South African school settings. Pain Management Nursing, 17(4), 249-261. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2016.03.002

41. Johnson, E., Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (2015). Eina, ouch, eish! How pain in children with cerebral palsy is communicated in South African school settings. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 31(4), 325–335. doi:10.3109/07434618.2015.1084042

42. White, R.M., Bornman, J. & Johnson, E. (2015). Testifying in court as a victim of crime for persons with little or no functional speech: Vocabulary implications. Child Abuse Research: A South African Journal (CARSA), 16(1). Available from: https://www.academia.edu/21406874/Testifying_in_court_as_a_victim_of_crime_for_persons_with_little_or_no_functional_speech_Vocabulary_implications

43. Johnson, E., Bornman J., & Alant, E. (2010). Parents’ perceptions of home reading activities: comparing children with and without disability. Perspectives in Education, 28(1), p.34-43. Available online: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/pie/article/view/76899

44. Johnson, E., Bornman J., & Alant, E. (2010). Parents’ perceptions of home reading activities: comparing children with and without disability. Perspectives in Education, 28(1), p.34-43. Available online: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/pie/article/view/76899

Books and/or chapters in books

  1. Bornman, J, White, R., Johnson, E. (2022). What Accommodations Do Courts Provide for Abused Children with Communication Disabilities? A Legal Scoping Review," In "Child Abuse and Neglect
  2. Johnson, E. (2021). Supporting communication vulnerable children to communicate their pain. In V. Y. Waisundara (Ed) Pain Management ISBN 978-1-83880-897-6  DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93588
  3. Johnson, E., & Muzata, K. K. (2019). Inclusive education – implementing Universal Design for Learning. In Banja M.K (Ed) Selected Readings in Education. ISBN: 978-9982-0394-6

Paper presentations

National:

  1. Johnson, E., Kuyler, A., & Clasquin-Johnson, M.G. Training ECD teachers for early intervention and inclusion for children with disabilities. SAERECE Conference, Cape Town, 29 September 2023
  2. Höök, A. & Johnson, E. Person-centred care. SASUF satellite workshop, Pretoria, 28 March 2023
  3. Johnson, E. My journey to NRF rating. Research and Innovation Week, University of South Africa. 1 June 2022
  4. Johnson, E.How children with cerebral palsy communicate their pain. National CP conference (virtual); 4 October 2021
  5. Johnson, E.Pain communication of children with cerebral palsy: Red Cross Children’s Memorial Hospital. Pain Symposium, 9 March 2021 (virtual)
  6. Johnson, E. Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome: How to communicate pain effectively and manage pain appropriately in the child with cognitive impairment, PainSA Academy, Gauteng, Midrand, South Africa, 23 February 2019
  7. Johnson, E. Pain communication in children with ASD, Autism Symposium, Potchefstroom, 9 July 2019
  8. Johnson, E.Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome: How to Communicate Pain Effectively and Manage Pain Appropriately in the Child with Cognitive Impairment, PainSA Academy, Polokwane, Midrand, South Africa, 3 August 2019
  9. Mostert, K., & Johnson, E.Addressing patients’ understanding of a specific physiotherapy home exercise programme through pictorial support, The South African Society of Physiotherapy Congress, Centurion, South Africa, September 2018
  10. Masuku, K., Johnson, E., & Bornman, J. Accessibility to healthcare for persons with a disability in Swaziland: A policy analysis, Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), Parys, South Africa, September 2018
  11. White, R., Johnson, E., & Bornman, J. (August 2017). Exploring factors that facilitate access to the criminal legal justice system for persons with complex communication needs. Oral presentation on 3 August 2017 at the Criminological Societies (CRIMSA) Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa
  12. White, R., Johnson, E., & Bornman, J. (August 2017). From Silence to Justice: Implications for children with little or no functional speech accessing the criminal justice system. Plenary oral session presented at 8 August 2017 at The South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) Conference, Pretoria, South Africa.
  13. Johnson, E., Morwane, R., Lotriet, M., & Pretorius, G. (September 2016). Adult learners’ perspectives on their engagement in a hybrid learning honours programme at a South African university. Oral presentation presented on 21 September 2016 at the 10th Annual University Teaching and Learning Higher Education Conference, Durban, South Africa.
  14. Johnson, E., Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (May 2015). Pain assessment and management of children with cerebral palsy in South African school settings. Oral presentation presented on 5 May at the National South African Cerebral Palsy Conference in Krugersdorp, 5-6 May 2015
  15. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Tonsing, K. (June 2014). What vocabulary do children with communication challenges need to express feelings of pain? Oral presentation presented on 6 June 2014 at the Orthopedic Paediatric Support South Africa (OPSSA) Conference, Rosebank, South Africa, 6 June 2014
  16. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (November 2014). Testifying in court as a victim of crime: What barriers do individuals with little or no functional speech face? Oral presentation. SAPSAC, 15th Annual National Conference on Child Abuse, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, 10 – 12 November 2014

 

International

  1. Johnson, E., Kuyler, A., Höök, A., Clasquin-Johnson, M.; Nilsson, S. Cultural adaptation of a paediatric person-centred programme for implementation in a South African private hospital. SASUF Sustainability Forum, 18 May 2024
  2. Thunberg, G., Nilsson, S., Johnson, E. Öhlén, J. (November 2020). Person-centred care and Universal Design as theoretical frameworks in eHealth for children. South African and Sweden University Forum goes Digital, Online, 25 November
  3. Johnson, E.., Mahakwe, G., Bothma, C.L. (November 2020). Assessment tools for self-reports -Systematic reviews of assessment tools in anxiety and nausea. South African and Sweden University Forum goes Digital, Online, 25 November
  4. Masuku, K, Johnson, E. & Bornman, J. (November 2020). Convergence of experiences of persons with disabilities and caregivers; perceptions of policy makers and the provisions of the national disability policy: Implications for access to healthcare for persons with disabilities in Eswatini. (Virtual) 8th Annual Disability Rights Conference, presented by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, 17 – 18 November 2020
  5. White, R., Bornman, J. & Johnson, E. (Sep 2019) Implementing a legal scoping review to determine court accommodations for persons with significant communication disabilities. Communication Matters Conference, Leeds, United Kingdom, 8-10 September 2019
  6. Johnson, E. (May 2018). Supporting children with cancer through shared decision-making to cope with their treatment and pain management. First South African and Sweden University Forum Research and Innovation Seminar, Pretoria, South Africa, 15-16 May 2018
  7. Johnson, E., & Mostert, K. (July 2018). Addressing patients’ understanding of a specific physiotherapy home exercise programme through pictorial support, 18th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Gold Coast, Australia, 23-26 July 2018
  8. Kuyler, A., & Johnson, E. (July 2018) Preferences of South African patients and nurses on the content requirements of ICU communication boards,18th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Gold Coast, Australia, 23-26 July 2018
  9. Gerber, N., & Johnson, E. (July 2018) Exploring graphical representation of pain-related vocabulary as preferred by children without disabilities, 18th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Gold Coast, Australia, 23-26 July 2018
  10. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (July 2018). From Silence to Justice: Facilitators for victims of crime with communication disabilities, 18th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Gold Coast, Australia, 23-26 July 2018
  11. White, R., Nyberg, A., Bornman, J., Ferm, U. & Johnson, E. (July 2018). Primary and secondary violence prevention programmes for persons with communication disabilities, 18th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Gold Coast, Australia, 23-26 July 2018
  12. Johnson, E., Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (June 2016). Professionals’ perceptions of pain communication of children with cerebral palsy in South African school settings. Oral presentation presented on 3 June 2016 at the International Conference on Cerebral Palsy and other Childhood-onset Disabilities in Stockholm, Sweden, 1-4 June 2016.
  13. Adolfsson, M, Nilsson, S., & Johnson, E. (June 2016). Cultural Impact on Environmental Conditions for Pain Management of Children with Cerebral Palsy in School Settings. Oral presentation presented on 10 June 2016 at the International Society for Early Intervention (ISEI) 2016 Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 8-10 June 2016
  14. Johnson, E., Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (June 2016). The rights of children with cerebral palsy to use alternative means when communicating pain. Oral presentation presented on 9 June 2016 at the International Society for Early Intervention (ISEI) 2016 Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 8-10 June 2016
  15. Gropp, M., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (August 2016). Nurses’ perspectives on patient communication using a low technology communication board in an Intensive Care Unit. Oral presentation presented on 8 August at the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Toronto, Canada, 6-13 August 2016
  16. Johnson, E., Nilsson, S., & Adolfsson, M. (August 2016). Pain communication of children with cerebral palsy in South African school settings: AAC implications. Oral presentation presented on 8 August at the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Toronto, Canada, 6-13 August 2016
  17. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Tönsing, K.M. (August 2016). Model for vocabulary selection of sensitive topics: An example from pain-related vocabulary. Oral presentation presented on 8 August at the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Toronto, Canada, 6-13 August 2016
  18. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (August 2016). Testify in court: Vocabulary needed for illiterate individuals with CCN. Oral presentation presented on 10 August at the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Toronto, Canada, 6-13 August 2016
  19. Johnson, E. Bornman, J., & Tonsing, K. (July 2014). Discovering communication: What vocabulary do children with communication challenges need to express feelings of pain? Oral presentation presented on 24 July at the 16th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Lisbon, Portugal – 21 – 24 July 2014
  20. White, R., Bornman, J., & Johnson, E. (July 2014). Using a symbol-based AAC system to testify in court: Vocabulary Implications. Oral presentation presented on 24 July at the 16th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Lisbon, Portugal – 21 – 24 July 2014
  21. Johnson, E., Bornman, J., & Dada, S. (August 2012). Vocabulary used by young children to express pain: An exploration. Oral presentation presented on 1 August 2012 at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Pittsburgh, USA – 28 July – 4 August 2012
  22. Johnson, E. (August 2012). Book adaptations for AAC users as entrance to literacy. Workshop presented during the 11th World Down Syndrome Congress, Cape Town, SA on 16 August 2012
  23. Johnson, E., Bornman, J, & Dada, S. (August 2011). Determination of children’s pain vocabulary: Implications for AAC users. Poster presentation at 2nd Regional African AAC Conference, Boksburg, SA, 2 – 4 August 2011
  24. Johnson, E., Kershaw, P, Van der Merwe, M. (August 2011). Adaptation of books for AAC Users. Skill shop presented at 2nd Regional African AAC Conference, Boksburg, Johannesburg, SA, 2 August 2011

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

Research awards and prizes

  1. Academic Achievers Award for NRF C2 rating (2021), University of Pretoria
  2. South African and Swedish University Forum (2019, 2020, 2021)
  3. NRF/STINT international collaboration grant (2019 – 2021)
  4. Scholarship for Teaching and Learning (2015, 2016), University of Pretoria
  5. Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Grant (2015)

 

Teaching awards and prizes

  • Education Award 2016: Reimagine Education 2016 Wharton Regional Award for Africa in recognition of innovative teaching and learning practice for project “Enhancing Post graduate student achievement: From Honours to PhD (2016) – part of team at Centre for AAC who won this award

  • Hamlet Award 2016: In recognition of the Centre for AAC´s outstanding achievements in the development and upliftment of the quality of life of persons with intellectual disability – part of team at Centre for AAC who won this award

Projects

  1. The use of alternative communication strategies to support patient-centred communication in critical care units. Collaborative research project with Prof T Heyns, Department of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria and Prof S Nilsson from University of Gottenburg (2016 to 2019)
  2. Supporting paediatric cancer patients through shared decision-making to cope with their symptom management. This collaborative research project with Prof S Nilsson from University of Gothenburg, Sweden and Dr E Johnson as the principal investigators earned the NRF/Stint international collaborative research grant (2019 – 2021), two South African Swedish University Forum grants (2019; 2020) as well as Swedish Childhood Cancer Association grant.
  3. Pain management and assessment of children with CP in school settings: Collaborative research project with Prof S Nilsson from University of Gothenburg and Prof M Adolfsson from University of Jönköping, both involved in the CHILD project, University of Jönköping. (2014 to 2015)

Other

Guest lecturer

  1. Master’s programme: Interventions in Childhood programme, Jönköping University, Sweden (11th June 2015): Presented two lectures entitled “Children’s pain-related vocabulary” and “Proposed Model for the selection of vocabulary for sensitive topics:” to students
  2. Department of Informatics, University of Pretoria, 25th February 2015, 4 March 2015: Presented two lectures on Systematic Reviews to the staff
  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria: Disability day (May 2011, 2012): Lectures to teachers from schools for learners with special educational needs on AAC implementation in the classroom

 

Tender trainings

  1. Department of Education, Mpumalanga Province: Five-day training of 40 teachers and 4 district officials on introduction to AAC, AAC technologies and AAC strategies, 18 – 22 November 2019, Emahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga
  2. Eastern Cape Department of Education: Five-day training of 50 teachers and therapists: Lectures on the introduction to AAC, symbol assessment and use of AAC devices and AAC strategies in the classroom for learners with little or no functional speech, 12 – 16 February 2018, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape
  3. National Prosecution Authority: One day training of 20 court preparation officials on how to support people with disabilities in court, 15 July 2016, Silverton, Pretoria
  4. Department of Education, Mpumalanga Province: Five-day training of 35 teachers and 5 district officials: Lectures on the introduction to AAC, symbol assessment and use of AAC devices in the classroom for learners with little or no functional speech, July 2016, Badplaas, Mpumalanga
  5. Department of Education, Mpumalanga Province: Five-day training of 30 teachers: Lectures on the introduction to AAC, symbol assessment and use of AAC devices in the classroom for learners with little or no functional speech, September 2015, Badplaas, Mpumalanga
  6. Northwest Department of Education: One day training of 50 teachers. Lecture and workshop on book adaptations for literacy, September 2012, Pretoria, Gauteng
  7. Northern Cape Department of Education: Conducted assessments of 10 learners with little or no functional speech at specific schools as identified by NC DoE; Conducted two trainings of 34 teachers: Lectures on the introduction to AAC, May, Aug 2011, Kimberley, Northern Cape

 

Outreach programmes

  1. Training of parents of children with disabilities, Lesotho (26 May 2017)
  2. FOFA project: Empowerment programme for young adults with disabilities (2011 to current)
  3. Project leader: Contracted book adaptation project for Department Basic Education (2012 – 2013)

 

Subject expert

  • National Prosecution Authority (NPA): development of qualification for Court Preparation Officers (2022, 2023)
  • CRITICAL READER: PhD proposals Various universities
  • EXTERNAL EXAMINER: MA and PhD studies – Various universities
  • REVIEWER of conference abstracts; NRF applications; ISI accredited journal manuscripts; book chapters; academic editor for an ISI accredited journal