Linda Petersson-Bloom

Linda Petersson-Bloom serves as a Senior Lecturer in Special Education at Kristianstad University's Faculty of Education, Department of Special Education. Her academic profile centers on advancing inclusive educational practices for students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly autism, across pre- and primary school settings through rigorous research and pedagogical innovation.

Education Background:

• PhD in Equity in Education for Autistic Students (awarded November 18, 2022)
• Completed doctoral studies within the Swedish Research Council-funded national research school 'Special Education for Teacher Educators (SET)' (Dnr. 2017-06039) during 2018-2022

Research Focus: Her work critically examines educational encounters with autistic students through three key lenses: professional perspectives (teachers/principals), parental insights, and student self-reports. She pioneers participatory research methodologies that position autistic children as active co-researchers rather than passive subjects. Her signature contribution involves integrating mixed methods approaches to bridge theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, particularly in professional development contexts for educators.

Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2024-2025) reveal a concentrated effort on systemic barriers to inclusion, evidenced by multiple scoping reviews analyzing teacher-student interactions. Her research consistently connects cognitive science principles with actionable classroom strategies, emphasizing preventative approaches to challenging situations rather than reactive interventions. Key thematic threads include translating neurodiversity research into teacher training, dismantling structural barriers in school environments, and developing student-centered inclusion metrics.

Research Leadership:

• Co-applicant on Sten K Johnson Foundation project 'When Learning Becomes a Mystery – Bridging Cognitive Science and Education for an Inclusive School' (2025-2026)
• External board Chairman at Utbildningscenter Autism, Autism Sverige (since June 2023)
• Editorial board member for Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs and Frontiers in Education

Impact: Her work directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through evidence-based frameworks that transform how schools accommodate neurodiverse learners. Media engagements, including the 2023 newspaper feature 'Forskarna: Lärare behöver utveckla förmågan att förstå npf', demonstrate her commitment to translating research into practical teacher development.