Psychology

Profile

After completing my Bachelors degree in Psychology at the University of Reading, UK in 1968, I trained as a clinical psychologist with the National Health Service in Oxford, and worked in a variety of clinical child and adult settings until 1971. I was awarded Associate Fellowship, registration as a Chartered Psychologist and Practising Certificate by the British Psychological Society in 1988 when registration of psychologists was first introduced. The University of Portsmouth awarded me a personal chair in the Psychology of Developmental Disability in 1994 and an Emeritus Professorship in 2000 on my retirement from teaching in the department.

Background

I joined the Psychology Department in 1975 and taught a variety of courses including clinical and biological psychology. I contributed to the development of courses in Applied Psychology and was Director, Centre for Disability Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK from 1992 to 2000. From 1990 to 1999, I served as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee, Portsmouth & South East Hampshire District Health Authority. From 2000, I have been Director of Science and Research, Down Syndrome Education International (now Chief Scientist). I have served as President, Down Syndrome International and Vice-President, European Down Syndrome Association. I am Editor in Chief of the international journal Down Syndrome Research and Practice (see http://www.down-syndrome.org/). Since September 2010, I have also been Visiting Professor, Faculty of Education, University of 0slo. 

Research interests

Since 1980 I have maintained a continuous programme of research focussing on understanding the effects of the chromosome disorder Down's Syndrome on children’s development in order to develop the most effective early interventions, therapies and educational programmes. I have a particular interest in the development of language, literacy, numeracy, memory and cognition but the work of my group has extended into inclusive education, adolescence, behaviour and social development.

This work led to the establishment of the charity Down's Syndrome Educational International (DSEI) in 1987 (see http://www.dseinternational.org). The work has and still does involve collaboration with other members of academic staff including currently Dr. Beatriz Lopez and Dr. Alessandra Fasulo.

We welcome undergraduate and postgraduate students. Many undergraduate students in the department carry out research in this area of work for their final year projects and to date 3 MPhils and 4 PhDs have been awarded. DSEI currently supports 5 PhD CASE ESRC studentships at Oxford, York, Reading, Lancaster and Middlesex Universities.

We have a team of research and practice staff and publish widely for parents and practitioners as well as publishing research papers. Our group is also in high demand worldwide as trainers and conference speakers and we have a wide network of international collaborators. We host international conferences every 3-4 years and a UK/Europe Research Forum on Down Syndrome annually. We now have a sister organisation Down Syndrome Education USA in California and we are developing research programmes in the USA.

Awards

I was awarded the Inaugural Scientific Award at the first international Biennial Scientific Conference on Down's Syndrome in Vancouver, 1998. In 2004 I was appointed OBE for Services to Special Needs Education, Queen’s Birthday Honours List. In 2005, I received the Theodore D Tjossen Research Award from the National Down Syndrome Congress, USA.

Recent research grants - grant holder

2009 – 2013 Improving reading and language outcomes for children with Down syndrome – with Dr Kelly Burgoyne and Professors Margaret Snowling and Charles Hulme, York University. £481,000, BIG Lottery Research Fund.

2009 – 2012 Early reading and phonological awareness - £40,000 Wates Foundation

2010 – 2011  Working memory training – with Stephanie Bennett,Dr Joni Holmes, Northumbria University and Professor Sue Gathercole, York University. £45,000, Baily Thomas Foundatio

Selected publications

Buckley, S. (2010) Health research, the needs of persons with Down syndrome and their families. In: R Urbano (Ed.) International Review of Research in Mental Retardation. pp 295- 306. Academic Press.

Buckley, S. J. & Johnson-Glenberg, M.C. (2008) Increasing literacy learning in Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.  In J. E. Roberts, R.S. Chapman & S.F. Warren (Eds.) Speech and Language Development and Intervention in Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome. (pp 233-254). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

Buckley, S. (2003). Literacy and Language. In Rondal, J. & Buckley, S. J. (Eds) Speech and Language Intervention in Down syndrome. (pp. 132-153).London: Whurr.

Byrne, A., MacDonald, J., & Buckley, S. J. (2002). Reading, language and memory skills: A comparative longitudinal study of children with Down syndrome and their mainstream peers. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 72(4), 513-529.

Buckley, S. & Bird, G. (2002). Cognitive development and education: Perspectives on Down syndrome from a twenty-year research programme. In M.Cuskelly, A. Jobling, & S. Buckley (Eds.), Down syndrome across the life span (pp. 66-80). London: Whurr.

Nye, J., Fluck, M., & Buckley, S. (2001). Counting and cardinal understanding in children with Down syndrome and typically developing children. Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 7(2), 68-78.

Laws, G., Byrne, A., & Buckley, S. (2000). Language and memory development in children with Down syndrome at mainstream schools and special schools: a comparison. Educational Psychology, 20(4), 447-457.

Buckley, S.J. (1999) Promoting the Development of Children with Down syndrome: the practical implications of recent psychological research. In J. A. Rondal, J. Perera & L. Nadel (Eds) Down’s Syndrome: A Review of Current Knowledge. Pp 111-123. London: Whurr. ISBN:1 86156 062 1.

Stores, R., Stores, G., Buckley, S. J. & Fellows, B.F. (1998). Daytime behaviour problems and maternal stress in children with Down syndrome, their siblings, non learning-disabled peers and learning disabled peers. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 42 (3) 228-237. ISSN: 0964-2633.

Laws, G. MacDonald, J. & Buckley, S.J. (1996) The effects of a short training in the use of rehearsal strategy on memory for words and pictures in children with Down syndrome. Down’s Syndrome Research and Practice 4 (2) 70-80. ISSN: 0968-7912.

Stores, R., Stores, G. & Buckley, S. J. (1996). The pattern of sleep disorders in children with Down’s syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 9, 2, 145-159. ISSN:1360-2322.

Buckley, S. J., Bird, G. & Byrne, A.(1996). Reading acquisition by young children with Down syndrome. (pp 268-279) In B. Stratford & P. Gunn (Eds) New Approaches to Down Syndrome. London: Cassell. ISBN: 304-33350-6.

Buckley, S. J. (1992). The development of children with Down syndrome - implications for effective education. In P. Rogers & M. Coleman (Eds.), Medical Care in Down Syndrome: A Preventative Medicine and Early Management Approach. (pp. 29-67) New York: Marcell Dekker. ISBN: 0-8247-8684-X.

Buckley, S. J. (1985). Attaining basic educational skills: reading, writing and number. In D. Lane & B. Stratford (Eds.), Current Approaches to Down's Syndrome. (pp. 315-343) Eastbourne: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. ISBN: 0-03-910610-1.

Recent research papers presented

Bennett, S., Fidler, D, Buckley, S. Improving Problem Solving and Task Persistence in Toddlers with Down syndrome. International Society for Early Intervention, New York, 2nd – 5th May, 2011

Baxter, R., Hughes, J., Buckley, S. The links between signing and talking. International Society for Early Intervention, New York, 2nd – 5th May, 2011

Buckley, S., Bird, G; Dual diagnosis: it really autism? International Society for Early Intervention, New York, 2nd – 5th May, 2011

Buckley, S., Burgoyne, K. Reading, language and phonological awareness in preschoolers with Down syndrome. International Society for Early Intervention, New York, 2nd – 5th May, 2011.

Burgoyne, K., Duff, F., Buckley, S., Clarke, P., Hulme, C. & Snowling, M. Evaluating a reading and language intervention for children with Down syndrome – preliminary findings.  Paper presented at the 3rd International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) European Regional Congress, Rome, 20th-23rd October, 2010

Bennett, S.J. Buckley, S, Holmes, J, Gathercole, S. Evaluating working memory training for children with Down syndrome. IASSID Conference, Rome; 20th-23rd October, 2010.

Bennett, S.J. Buckley, S, Fidler, D. Improving problem solving skills in toddlers with Down syndrome. DownsEd UK and Europe Down syndrome research Forum, Portsmouth, 11th-12th November, 2010.

Bennett, S.J. Buckley, S, Holmes, J, Gathercole, S. Evaluating working memory training for children with Down syndrome. Cogmed Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 23rd-27th, September, 2010.

Bennett, S.J. Buckley, S, Holmes, J, Gathercole, S. Evaluating working memory training for children with Down syndrome.  BPS Developmental Section, Goldsmiths, London, 12th-15th September 2010.

Burgoyne, K., Buckley, S., Hulme, C. & Snowling, M. (2009).  Introducing an intervention to improve reading and language outcomes for children with Down syndrome in mainstream classrooms.  Down syndrome World Congress, Dublin, 19th 22nd August 2009.

Bennett, S.J., Buckley, S. Early development in children with Down syndrome. BPS Developmental Section, Nottingham, 9th-11th September, 2009.

Bennett, S.J., Buckley, S. Early development in children with Down syndrome. Down syndrome World Congress, Dublin, 19th 22nd August 2009.

Contact details

E mail: sue.buckley@dseinternational.org

Office: +44 (0)2392 893885

Mobile: +44 (0)7500 884648