Rita Jordan

Jordan has a B.Sc. from University College London, an M.Sc. in child development, and an M.A. in linguistics.[1] She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham in 1998.[2][3] She trained teachers at the University of Hertfordshire[4] before moving to the University of Birmingham. She started the Autism Centre for Education and Research at the University of Birmingham along with Glenys Jones.[5] Jordan was the founding editor for Autism along with Patricia Howlin.[6] Jordan retired from the University of Birmingham and is now an emeritus professor.[7]

Jordan's work focused on improving the educational support for children on the autism spectrum. She published a review on existing educational interventions for the Department for Education along with her colleagues at Birmingham in 1998.[8] She has authored several books on autism,[9] many of these have been translated into different languages.[10][11] Her publications cover topics in the field of autism and education, including books such as Autism with Severe Learning Difficulties,[12] Autism and Learning,[13] and Understanding and Teaching Children with Autism.[14] Her journal articles raised issues to consider in the development of provision and practice for individuals on the autism spectrum.[15][16]

Jordan's awards include an OBE in 2007.[17] She presented the Gulliford Lecture at the University of Birmingham in 2007.[18] In 2014 she received a lifetime achievement award from the National Autistic Society,[19] and in a 2014 interview, Jordan describes this as a positive moment in her career.[20]

• Seeing all young people as individuals - Professor Rita Jordan on YouTube February 17, 2014