Psychology Colloquia Series: Dr Mary Hanley

Developmental psychology and neurodiversity

We’re delighted to welcome Professor Mary Hanley from the Department of Psychology at Durham University to our next seminar. She will be presenting on the topic of developmental psychology and neurodiversity.

Why are so many autistic learners struggling in mainstream schools? And what can we do about it?

School can be a really difficult place for autistic learners – there’s so much to contend with beyond academic learning. Schools are busy, noisy, unpredictable places, where schedules and expectations change frequently. For autistic learners, with needs relating to attention, sensory arousal and anxiety, these demands make school really challenging. 

In this lecture, Professor Mary Hanley will present a programme of research on why mainstream school environments give rise to fundamental challenges for autistic learners, and why we need to reframe our understanding of difficulties at school in terms of the environment. With evidence from Triple-A training for education professionals, she will discuss how research on attention, sensory arousal and anxiety can change understanding of these needs and practice of support, leading to positive impacts for school staff and the autistic (and neurodivergent) learners they support.

We look forward to welcoming you online for the talk. Please note that the session will be recorded.

Mary Hanley is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Durham University. She is a Co-founder and Co-Director for the Centre for Neurodiversity and Development at Durham University. Her research is focussed on understanding strengths and difficulties for neurodiverse groups, mostly for autistic people and people with Williams syndrome. Mary is especially interested in how challenges with attention, sensory arousal and anxiety interact with each other and impact on engaging and learning at school.  

Over the last number of years, Mary has focussed on translating this research evidence to practice within education, to change practice and benefit neurodivergent children and young people. The approach taken in this work is collaborative (e.g. with Durham County Council, Investing in Children) and participatory. Mary is committed to impact and engagement beyond the academy, and in 2024 she was awarded the British Psychological Society Development Section ‘Impact and Engagement Award’. 

The Psychology Colloquia 2026/27 series is organised by Dr Goffredina Spano from the Department of Psychology at Kingston University.

The annual programme offers ten research talks each academic year. The sessions features either a Kingston University researcher or an invited expert presenting current research, innovative findings and emerging ideas from areas including: 

• Developmental psychology 
• Cognitive psychology 
• Social psychology 
• Clinical psychology 
• Neuroscience 

The series provides opportunities to explore current psychological research, exchange ideas and engage in discussion with researchers and professionals from across the field.

If you have questions about the event, or need more information about the Psychology Colloquia series, please email Goffredina at [email protected].