In my PhD thesis, I am investigating the social inclusion of adolescents with and without visual impairments, which is here defined as a multidimensional term. I am also looking at the effects of social inclusion on the academic learning and socioemotional development of these students. The current research is being carried out within the context of two major theoretical approaches: the socioecological theory and the social cognitive theory. I am also particularly interested in the Theory of Mind and its applications to individuals with visual impairments.
I am a Psychology Researcher at Kingston University London interested in improving the academic and social outcomes of students with and without special educational needs and translating research into practice. I am also an Academic Grants Holder, currently investigating the benefits of social inclusion on the academic learning and socioemotional development of adolescents with and without visual impairments, as well as the impact of rehabilitation services on the daily lives of students with visual impairments. I am currently working as a HP Lecturer and Seminar Leader with blended teaching expertise and I am teaching in various Psychology and Research Methods modules (Levels 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). I have received the 1st prize of Best New Researcher 2019 in the Faculty of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences at Kingston University London. One of my latest achievements was the decision of the Prime Minister of Greece to include youth entrepreneurship as a core subject in all schools in the country, after the suggestions discussed in the "Innovation and Entrepreneurship at School" event, where I presented my ideas on employment and entrepreneurship of students with special educational needs. Additionally, I am an Associate Fellow of the Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy) and a guest peer-reviewer in the British Journal of Visual Impairment and the Journal of Health Psychology.
Other publications
Invited talks
Manitsa, Ifigeneia and Doikou, Maro (2020) Social support for students with visual impairments in educational institutions : an integrative literature review. British Journal of Visual Impairment, ISSN (print) 1744-5809 (Epub Ahead of Print)
Manitsa, Ifigeneia, Barlow-Brown, Fiona and Lyons, Evanthia (2020) Self-concept of adolescents with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 38(2), pp. 160-167. ISSN (print) 0264-6196
Manitsa, Ifigeneia, Barlow-Brown, Fiona and Lyons, Evanthia (2019) Self-concept in adolescents with visual impairments. In: 10th Annual Faculty Research Conference: Contemporary Issues in Business and Social Sciences in a period of uncertainty; 03 - 04 Jun 2019, Kingston upon Thames, U.K.. (Unpublished)
Contact me for more information.