Dr Luke Beardon BA (Hons), PgC (Autism), EDd
Senior Lecturer in Autism
Summary
Luke has worked for over three decades in the autism field. He is a staunch advocate of autistic individuals’ rights and seeks to redress inequalities often faced by the autistic community. He has published several books on autism and has won multiple autism-related awards, as well as several inspirational teacher awards. He is currently the Course Leader for the Post Graduate Certificate in Autism run in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, has supervised several students to complete their Doctorates, and supports teaching and supervision on the MA Autism. Luke frequently speaks at National and International conferences sharing his passion for all things autism-related.
About
In his post as Senior Lecturer in autism Luke runs various courses at different academic levels in autism, including a Masters qualification, while continuing to research and consult in the field of autism. He is the course leader for the Postgraduate Certificate in , run in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, and supervises students at Doctoral level. In 2011 he was nominated for and subsequently awarded the Inspirational Teacher Award as voted by students. In 2012 Luke was nominated for and subsequently awarded the Inspirational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Supervisor Award as voted by students.
Specialist areas of interest
- Autism
- Individual support and the criminal justice system
- Lived experiences of autistic people
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Education
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Subject area
Autism
Courses taught
- PGCert Autism
- MA Autism
- PhD Supervisor
Modules taught
- Critical Reflections on Autism
- Autopia: Autism, Environment and Practice
- Challenging Concepts of Challenging Behaviour
- Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Project
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Luke has been part of a research team at Nottingham University running a three year project, and has several publications in national and international journals related to the project. He completed his doctoral thesis at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ which was around autism and perceived offending conduct.
He co-wrote the ASPECT consultancy report, the largest consultation with adults with AS undertaken at the time. He is co-editor of three books on Asperger syndrome published by Jessica Kingsley, and has various other publications in journals.
Dr Luke Beardon is a member of staff in The Autism Centre at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. He has been working as a practitioner providing support and consultancy in the field of autism for around 20 years. He has had several media appearances including BBC, Channel Four, TV and radio.
Publications
Journal articles
Montague-Cardoso, K., Beardon, L., & Kirby, A. (2025). . PLOS Mental Health, 2 (3).
Chown, N., Annable, J.L., Beardon, L., & Howard, N. (2023). A response to the terms in Shah et al's 'Neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodiversity: definition of terms from Scotland's National Autism Implementation Team'. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 222 (4), 157-159.
Beardon, L., Baker-Rogers, J., Chown, N., Hughes, L., Cossburn, K., & Leatherland, J. (2018). Achieving More in College' Project: An assessment of the support for autistic students attending United Kingdom colleges. Good Autism Practice.
Chown, N.P., Beardon, L., & Cossburn, K. (2018). . Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 9 (1), 59-63.
Chown, N., Robinson, J., Beardon, L., Downing, J., Hughes, L., Leatherland, J., ... MacGregor, D. (2017). . Disability and Society, 32 (5), 720-734.
Leatherland, J., & Beardon, L. (2016). ‘The Bridge: Journal for Educational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-Informed Practice’, 3 (2).
Lawson, W.B., & Beardon, L. (2016). Editor forewords. The Nine Degrees of Autism: A Developmental Model for the Alignment and Reconciliation of Hidden Neurological Conditions, xiii-xx.
Beale-Ellis, S., Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Martin, N. (2014). Examining intellectual prowess, not social differences: removing barriers from the doctoral viva for autistic candidates. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 22-38.
Beale-Ellis, S., Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Martin, N. (2014). Examining intellectual prowess, not social differences: removing barriers from the doctoral viva for autistic candidates. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 22-38.
Beardon, L., & Chown, N. (2014). Identification of adults on the autism spectrum: a suggested pathway and good practice principles. Good Autism Practice, 35.
Beardon, L., Woolsey, I., & Martin, N. (2009). What do students with Asperger syndrome or highfunctioning autism want at college and university? (in their own words). Good Autism Practice, 35.
Beardon, L. (2008). Is Autism really a disorder part two - theory of mind? Rethink how we think. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and higher Education, 19-21.
Beardon, L., Martin, N., Goodley, D., & Madriaga, M. (2008). Towards an inclusive environment for university students who have Asperger syndrome. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 3-14.
Cobb, S., Beardon, L., Eastgate, R., Glover, T., Kerr, S., Neale, H., ... Wilson, J. (2002). Applied virtual environments to support learning of social interaction skills in users with Asperger's Syndrome. Digital Creativity, 13 (1), 11-22.
Beardon, L., Parsons, S., & Neale, H. (2001). An interdisciplinary approach to investigating the use of virtual reality environments for people with Asperger syndrome. Educational and Child Psychology, 18 (2), 53-62.
Book chapters
Beardon, L. (2022). How and Why are Autistic People Anxious? In Educational Psychology Perspectives on Supporting Young Autistic People. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2022). . In The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies. (pp. 159-164). Routledge:
Chown, N., Debbaudt, D., Beardon, L., Cossburn, K., & Scott, J. (2021). Autism and Operational Policing. In Handbook of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Law. (pp. 471-500). Springer International Publishing:
Beardon, L. (2019). Autism, Masking, Social Anxiety and the Classroom. In Teacher Education and Autim. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Milton, D. (2017). England and Autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L. (2017). Foreword. In Sensing the City: an Autistic Perspective. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2017). The Stigma of Autism. In Thirty Years of Social Change. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L., & Gaskell, L. (2017). Autism, Learning Disability, and the Criminal Justice System. In The Autism Annual. Pavillion
Beardon, L., & Chwon, N. (2017). Theoretical Models of Autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L., & Chown, N. (2017). Autism Theory. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Cossburn, K. (2017). First responders and autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L. (2016). Foreword. In Sensory Issues for Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2014). Foreword. In Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2012). Foreword. In Autism and Flexischooling. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2006). Foreword. In The Asperger Personal Guide. Lucky Duck
Beardon, L. (2006). Foreword. In The Asperger Social Guide. Lucky Duck
Beardon, L. (2005). Foreword. In The Asperger Love Guide. Lucky Duck
Books
Beardon, L. (2025). Reasonable Adjustments for Autistic Adults How to Make Your Life Better. Hachette UK.
Beardon, L. (2024). Reasonable Adjustments for Autistic Children How to Make Their World Better. Hachette UK.
Beardon, L. (2023). What Works for Autistic Adults. Hachette UK.
Beardon, L. (2022). What Works for Autistic Children. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2021). Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2020). Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2019). Autism in Childhood. (2nd). Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2017). Autism in Adults. (2nd). Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2017). Love, Partnership, or Singleton on the Autism Spectrum. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2017). Bittersweet on the Autism Spectrum. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2011). Aspies on Mental Health Speaking for Ourselves. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Edmonds, G., & Beardon, L. (2008). Asperger Syndrome and Social Relationships Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Edmonds, G., & Beardon, L. (2008). Asperger Syndrome and Employment Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Wylie, P., Lawson, W., & Beardon, L. (Eds.). (n.d.). The Nine Degrees of Autism. Routledge.
Reports
Beardon, L. (2007). Aspect Consultancy Report.
Theses / Dissertations
Panella-Peral, S. (2020). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L., & Jay, T.
Pindar, S.-.A. (2019). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Leatherland, J. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Ellis, S.J. (2014). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Chown, N. (2012). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Beardon, L. (2008). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Garner, I., & Senior, P.
Andrews, T.R. (n.d.). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hodge, N.
Internet Publications
Beardon, L. (2014). Luke Beardon Perspective on Autism. [Blog].
Other publications
McGrath, L., Pearse, S., Beardon, L., Boodt, S., O'Brien, S., & Hathaway, C. (2025). Sharing the joy on International Day of Education. Sheffield Hallam Blog:
Other activities
- Section Editor for Neurodiversity and Mental Health, PLOS Journal
- Keynote for several National and International conferences
- Several media appearances
Postgraduate supervision
Autism
Media
Dr Luke Beardon is a member of staff in The Autism Centre at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. He has been working as a practitioner providing support and consultancy in the field of autism and Asperger syndrome for around 20 years. Luke's research interests are around individuals with autism who have broken the law.