Dr Michelle Somerton
Biography
Michelle Somerton is an experienced senior lecturer and specialist in inclusive education with research interests in barriers to learning and children with autism and developmental disorders. Dr Somerton has worked internationally in Global North and South contexts including Central Asia (the post-Soviet context) specialising in inclusive education policy, leadership, research methods in education, and developing inclusive schools. An experienced HDR supervisor, she has successfully supervised 24 masters and three doctoral students to completion. In 2021 Dr Somerton was appointed by academic council to the position of Chair of the Nazarbayev University Special Learning Needs Committee (inaugural).
Dr Somerton has worked with a range of educational stakeholders including UNICEF, Soros Foundation, Ministries of Education, Health, and Social Services, schools, teachers, and higher degree institutions. She was recently invited (April 2024) to provide expert advice to UNICEF and the Ministry of Education in Krygyzstan as part of proposed major curriculum reforms.
"I know through my own experiences that education has the power to change lives. This was in part, my motivation to expand my knowledge and advocacy of educational change, specifically through inclusive educational practices in local and global contexts. Students face barriers to learning in many forms and providing opportunities for all to succeed is essential and I personally embody these beliefs and values.
Dr Somerton has worked with a range of educational stakeholders including UNICEF, Soros Foundation, Ministries of Education, Health, and Social Services, schools, teachers, and higher degree institutions. She was recently invited (April 2024) to provide expert advice to UNICEF and the Ministry of Education in Krygyzstan as part of proposed major curriculum reforms.
"I know through my own experiences that education has the power to change lives. This was in part, my motivation to expand my knowledge and advocacy of educational change, specifically through inclusive educational practices in local and global contexts. Students face barriers to learning in many forms and providing opportunities for all to succeed is essential and I personally embody these beliefs and values.
Book Chapter
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tsediso Michael Michael Makoelle; Michelle Irene Somerton (2019) 'Facilitating Inclusive Teaching and Learning Spaces Through Digital Education Technology' In: [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Tsediso Michael Makoelle, Daniel Hernández-Torrano, Michelle Somerton and Natallia Yakavets (2023) 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Kazakhstan' In: Mapping Educational Change in Kazakhstan. London : Cambridge University Press. |
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kairat Mukashev; Michelle Somerton (2024) 'Disability and homeschooling: Parents experiences in Kazakhstan'. Children & Society, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Samantha Vlcek; Michelle Somerton (2023) 'Collaborative engagement between stakeholders in the education of Australian students with disability: a scoping review'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Michelle Somerton (2022) 'Developing an educational app for students with autism'. Frontiers In Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Passeka, Yevgeniya; Somerton, Michelle (2022) 'Bridging the gap: special educators' perceptions of their professional roles in supporting inclusive education in Kazakhstan'. Disability and Society, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Somerton, Michelle; Stolyarova, Valentina; Khanin, Stanislav (2021) 'Autism and the Knowledge and Beliefs of Specialists in Kazakhstan'. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | (2021) 'Inclusive Education in a Post-Soviet Context'. Inclusive Education in a Post-Soviet Context, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Rollan, Kamila; Somerton, Michelle (2021) 'Inclusive education reform in Kazakhstan: civil society activism from the bottom-up'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | Vlcek, Samantha; Somerton, Michelle; Rayner, Christopher (2020) 'Collaborative Teams: Teachers, Parents, and Allied Health Professionals Supporting Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mainstream Australian Schools'. Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | Helmer, Janet; Kasa, Rita; Somerton, Michelle; Makoelle, Tsediso Michael; Hernandez-Torrano, Daniel (2020) 'Planting the seeds for inclusive education: one resource centre at a time'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | (2020) 'Mapping research on inclusive education since Salamanca Statement: a bibliometric review of the literature over 25 years'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | (2020) 'Defining spaces: resource centres, collaboration, and inclusion in Kazakhstan'. Journal of Educational Change, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2015 | (2015) 'Who is Billy Possum?'. The Journal of Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria, . [Link] | |
| Michelle Irene Somerton 'Facilitating Inclusive Teaching and Learning Spaces Through Digital Education Technology: Teaching and Learning Though Digital Technology'. . [Link] [DOI] | ||
| 2024 | S Vlcek M Somerton S Pedersen (2024) 'Stakeholder collaboration in the education of Australian students with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review'. Australasian Journal of Special Education, . |
Published Report
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | S Pather, M Somerton, V Stolyarova, A Jaxybayeva, S Khanin. (2020) Diagnosing children with Autism and Intellectual Impairment in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, . [Link] | |
| 2019 | R Kasa, J Helmer, M Somerton, D Hernandex-Torrrano, T Makoelle. (2019) Creating Conditions for Inclusive Education in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, . [Link] |
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.