Maria Truesdale

Maria Truesdale

Dr Maria Truesdale

Lecturer in Learning Disabilities

 0131 455 2663

  M.Truesdale@napier.ac.uk

  

Biography

I am a learning disability lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier University. Prior to my current post I was a research fellow within the Institute of Nursing and Health Research at Ulster University. I have held research posts at Ulster since 2002 within the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. I completed my PhD in 2004 at Ulster and more recently in 2015 I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice becoming a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have longstanding experience in working with vulnerable groups on sensitive issues in health related research across the lifespan in a number of areas including childhood obesity, breast cancer, ageing, diabetes and psychological trauma. In addition I have been involved in undertaking evaluations of specialist mental health and challenging behaviour units, early interventions for preschool children with autism and developing and delivering interventions for chronic illnesses and psychological trauma for this marginalised population.

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Critical Reader
  • Expert panel member

 

Conference Activity

  • The Health Needs Assessment Report: 2017 update: International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities World Conference (IASSIDD), Athens. (2017) Truesdale, M. and Brown, M.
  • The outcome of a pilot feasibility study of the DESMOND-ID programme for adults with intellectual disability and type 2 diabetes. The Royal Society of Medicine (November 2016). Dr M. Truesdale, Dr L. Taggart, Prof V. Coates, Prof B. Bunting, Prof M. Brown, Prof T. Karatzias, Prof Ruth Northway and Dr M. Carey.
  • Practicalities of managing diabetes in people with intellectual disabilities. Professional Diabetes Conference in NI. “Diabetes care: The rewards of Investment”. (2015)The Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick, Northern Ireland. Dr M. Truesdale
  • Diabetes education for adults with a learning disability and type 2 diabetes and their carers. (2014) Public Health Agency, Belfast. Dr M. Truesdale and Dr L. Taggart
  • Diabetes education for adults with a learning disability and type 2 diabetes and their carers (2014) Diabetes UK Legacy Event, Belfast. Truesdale, M., Taggart., L, Brown, M., Karatzias, T., Northway, R., Coates, V., Bunting, B. , Carey, M.
  • Type 2 diabetes education for adult with intellectual disabilities. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities World Conference (IASSIDD), Vienna. (2014) Truesdale, M., Taggart, L., Brown, M., Karatzias, T., Bunting, B., Northway, R., and Carey, M.
  • Mutual support: an exploration of the role of adults with intellectual disabilities caring for their older family carers. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities World Conference (IASSID), Vienna. (2014) Truesdale, M., Taggart, L. , Ryan, A.A. and McConkey, R.
  • Ageing and intellectual disability: Implications for policy and practice on the island of Ireland. Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) (2012). Truesdale, M.
  • Community learning disability teams: perceived effectiveness and service user satisfaction. R&D Office for Northern Ireland Conference, Making a difference, Belfast. (2007) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Barr., O. & Taggart., L.
  • Prevalence, determinants and strategies for countering overweight and obesity in school aged children and adolescents: a comparison of learning disabled and non-learning disabled pupils. R&D Office for Northern Ireland Conference, Making a difference, Belfast, Northern Ireland. (2007) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Livingstone, B & Fleming, P.
  • The prevalence, determinants and strategies for countering overweight and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents: a comparison of learning disabled and non-learning disabled pupils. Findings to date. The Wraparound Stakeholder Forum. Armagh City Hotel, Armagh, N. Ireland. (2006) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Livingstone, B & Fleming, P.
  • Overweight & healthy life styles of school-aged pupils with learning disabilities. Paper being presented at Conference to Coincide with Special Olympics, Belfast. (2006) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Livingstone, B. & Fleming, P.
  • The Keyhole Early Intervention Project: Supporting families with pre-school children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Positive Futures & the University of Ulster: “Supporting Families” One Day Conference. Hilton Hotel, Belfast, N. Ireland.
  • Supporting families in Northern Ireland who have children with severe intellectual disabilities. Royal College of Nursing Research Conference. Europa Hotel and The Spires Conference Centre, Belfast, N. Ireland. Truesdale, M.
  • Community learning disability teams. Royal College of Nursing Research Conference. Europa Hotel and The Spires Conference Centre, Belfast, N. Ireland. (2005)Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Barr, O. & Taggart, L.
  • Evaluation of a new style of family support service for children and teenagers with learning disabilities. Developmental Disabilities and Child Health Research Group. Antrim Area Hospital, N. Ireland. (2004) Truesdale, M and McConkey, R.
  • The perceived functioning of Community Learning Disability Teams in Northern Ireland. Developmental Disabilities and Child Health Research Group. Antrim Area Hospital, N. Ireland. (2004) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Barr, O and Taggart, L.
  • An interim report: The evaluation of the assessment and treatment unit at Longstone Hospital. SHSSB, N. Ireland. (2004) Truesdale, M. and Slevin, E.
  • Function and Structure of Community Learning Disability Teams: The Central Role of Community Nurses. 15th International Nursing Research Congress Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Dublin. (2004) Truesdale, M., Slevin, E., Barr, O. and Taggart, L.
  • The impact of support services on families caring for a children with a learning disability in N. Ireland. 12th World Congress, I.A.S.S.I.D.D. European Conference in Montpellier, France. (2004) Truesdale, M.
  • Supporting families in Northern Ireland who have children with severe learning disabilities. Special Olympic International Symposium at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. (2003) Truesdale, M.
  • Coping with stress in mothers and fathers of children with learning disabilities. Learning Disability Research Group Research Colloquium. Antrim Area Hospital, N. Ireland. (2002) Truesdale, M.
  • Coping and stress in families caring for a child with a learning disability. I.A.S.S.I.D. D. European Conference in Dublin. Republic of Ireland. (2002) Truesdale, M.
  • Maternal health and stress in families with a child who has multiple disabilities. Learning Disability Research Group Research Colloquium. Ulster University, Northern Ireland. (2001) Truesdale, M.
  • Factors influencing family caring of children and adolescents with learning disabilities. International Doctoral Symposium. School of Nursing in the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, America. (2001) Truesdale, M.

 

External Examining/Validations

  • MRes Nursing Examination at University College Cork. Thesis title: Breast Awareness Amongst Women with Mild/Moderate intellectual disability: Linking Theory to Practice.

 

Reviewing

  • Peer review of journal publications

 

Pre-Napier Funded Projects

  • Diabetes education for people with learning disabilities and type 2 diabetes and their carers: a pilot RCT (October 2014 to March 2015) HSC R&D Public Health Agency, NI. £12,750. Taggart, L., Bunting, B., Coates, V., & Truesdale-Kennedy, M.
  • An evaluation of the Best Buddies Causeway project development. Compass Advocacy Network - Big Lottery. (2014) Taggart, & Truesdale-Kennedy, M.
  • Effective family support models during the transition of adults wit hintellectual disabilities into old age. (March 2013 to February 2016) HSC R&D Public Health Agency, NI - Bamford. £297, 278. Taggart, L., Ryan, A., Slevin, J.E., McConkey, R. and Truesdale-Kennedy et al.
  • Support options for people with behaviors that challenge or mental health problems and the impact of ageing: A rapid review of evidence related to intellectual disabled people . HSC R&D Bamford Implementation Rapid Review Scheme) £22,808. Slevin, E., McConkey, R., Taggart, L., McConkey, R., Truesdale-Kennedy, M. and Dowling, S.
  • Prevalence, determinants and strategies for counting overweight and obesity in school aged children and adolescents: a comparison of learning disabled and non-learning disabled pupils (R&D Office, DHSS&PS) £225,810. Slevin, E., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Donnelly, L., Farrell, B., Fleming, P and Livingstone, B.

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