Jessica Hayton

Dr. Jessica Hayton is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE). She serves as Programme Leader for the Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) and holds the position of Departmental Innovation and Enterprise Lead. With 9 years of lecturing experience and 6 years as Programme Leader, Dr. Hayton is a prominent figure in the field of childhood vision impairment research and education.

Dr. Hayton's educational background includes:

• PhD from University College London (2013-2016)
• MSc in Psychology of Education from the Institute of Education, London (2011-2012)
• BA(Hons) in Psychology and Philosophy from Heythrop College, University of London (2008-2011)

Dr. Hayton's research centers on childhood vision impairment and developing practical strategies to support independence skills. Her work explores sleep patterns in children with vision impairment, fine motor skill development for independent dressing, and habilitation approaches. She has designed and run novel interventions to support children with vision impairment, children with Down syndrome, and neurotypical children. Dr. Hayton employs mixed-methods design in her research, emphasizing the importance of gathering direct input from participants to understand their experiences.

Her extensive publication record reveals consistent focus on vision impairment, habilitation, sleep patterns, and independence skills development. The research shows a clear trajectory from foundational studies on dressing skills to more complex investigations of mental health, quality of life, and cross-cultural comparisons in children with vision impairment. Recent work increasingly addresses mental health aspects alongside physical habilitation needs, reflecting a comprehensive approach to supporting children with vision impairment.

Dr. Hayton has received several professional recognitions:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2021-present)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019-present)
• Nominated for "Excellent Personal Tutoring" (UCLU Student Choice Teaching Awards, 2021)
• Celebrating our Colleagues Work award (UCL, 2020)

As an educator, Dr. Hayton leads all 4 modules on the Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and serves as module co-lead for Research, Design, and Methodology at Masters level. She has successfully supervised PhD students and students in the professional doctorate for Educational Psychology. Her external examiner roles at Liverpool John Moores University and University of Birmingham demonstrate her standing in the academic community. Dr. Hayton has secured research funding from organizations including the British Academy/Leverhulme (for sleep research in children with vision impairment) and Williams France (for research on adolescents with Williams Syndrome).

Dr. Hayton maintains strong connections with professional organizations and external partners. She is affiliated with Habilitation VI UK (the professional body for Habilitation workers in the UK), the Scottish Sensory Centre, and the Centre for Inclusive Education. Her collaborative work extends to organizations like English National Ballet, Barbican Centre, CBBC, and Samsung, where she has contributed expertise on accessibility, inclusive design, and habilitation strategies.