Kathryn Asbury, Professor of Psychology in Education, Education
Kathryn is Professor of Psychology in Education in the University of York’s Education Department.
Her research is focused on behavioural genomics and special educational needs.
email: kathryn.asbury@york.ac.uk
Our 60-second interview with Kathryn:
Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?
My current work focuses on understanding the experiences and wellbeing of disabled and neurodivergent children and their families, with an emphasis on ensuring their voices are prioritised in research and social decision-making that affects them.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?
The participants are always the most inspiring element of my work, and I am driven by wanting the stories they so generously share to make the world a more accommodating, supportive and affirming place, and for this to have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of everybody affected by disability or neurodivergence.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?
Some of my research is focused on controversial and emotive topics such as the genetic and environmental causes of behaviour. It can be challenging to communicate to participants, broader communities of disabled and neurodivergent people and other academics that this work is carried out in good faith. At the same time it is important to always embrace the challenge of fairly and accurately representing the people we study, especially when we do not share their experience.
What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?
I hope my team’s research can contribute towards ensuring that research affecting children with special educational needs and their families, and indeed disabled and neurodivergent adults, is co-produced with the people it most affects. I hope we can help to amplify the voices of seldom-heard groups in research on genomics, education, social policy, mental health and wellbeing.
Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?
This is a tough one – like many people I ‘talk the talk’ better than I ‘walk the walk’. I think the most helpful thing I do is trust the advice of people who love me when I’m too overwhelmed to keep my own priorities straight. An early night once a week helps too (when I remember to do it).