Jessica Zanuttini

Dr. Jessica Zanuttini is a Lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Sydney's Sydney School of Education and Social Work. She holds a PhD in Education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her research focuses on the educational experiences of children and young people with disabilities, particularly those with autism, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative methods to explore social, political, and cultural influences on learning outcomes. She co-designs interventions that amplify student and caregiver voices while balancing community needs with academic rigor.

Education:

• PhD in Education
• Bachelor of Education (Honours)

Research Interests:

• Student voice and perspectives
• Single-subject experimental design
• Developmental disorders (autism, disabilities)
• Social communication and friendship development
• School-based interventions
• Early childhood intervention policies

Awards:

• 2019 Australian Association of Special Education Research Award
• 2019 Council for Exceptional Children Doctoral Scholar
• Nominated for 2024 Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards (Inclusion Champion)

Grants and Collaborations:

• Lead researcher on multiple grants including STaR Commissioned Research and FASS Open Access Funds
• Recipient of University of Sydney Nano Institute membership
• Collaborations on early childhood intervention policies and post-school transition programs

Labs/Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary teams in disability policy, inclusive education design, and participatory research methodologies.