Rate My Professor Laura Roche

Dr. Laura Roche is a Senior Lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She is committed to developing personalised, evidence-based interventions to help young people with neurodevelopmental disorders learn, communicate, and flourish within society. Advocating a strengths-based approach to learning for children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders, her work focuses on improving communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors for those with conditions such as autism, Angelman syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and Rett syndrome. By acknowledging existing abilities, understanding individual needs, and collaborating with families, Roche implements strategies that reduce maladaptive behaviors, enhance quality of life, and enable community participation. Her academic background includes undergraduate studies in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Otago, New Zealand, followed by a Master of Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Professional Development, and Doctor of Philosophy, all from Victoria University of Wellington.

Roche's career history encompasses diverse research roles, beginning as a research assistant with Professor Jeff Sigafoos at Victoria University of Wellington, where she established a lasting collaboration resulting in multiple publications. She served as a Research Fellow at the Medical University of Graz in Austria investigating early vocal behaviors in children with rare neurodevelopmental disorders, Research Fellow at Griffith University's Autism Centre of Excellence, Post-Doctorate Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Children’s Health Research, and clinical Post-Doctorate fellow under pediatrician Helen Heussler. Currently, she leads studies on tailored interventions for complex communication needs in the Hunter region and the impact of autism on university students’ sleep and anxiety. Key publications include 'Scalable physical activity intervention for youth with disability: Burn 2 Learn adapted cluster randomized controlled trial' (Lubans et al., 2025, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity), 'Uncovering Challenges in Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education' (Duncan et al., 2025), 'Narrative review of communication and social skills interventions for people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome' (Roche et al., 2024, Evidence Based Communication Assessment and Intervention), 'Updated systematic-narrative review on communication intervention in Rett Syndrome: 2010-2022' (Sigafoos et al., 2023, Augmentative and Alternative Communication), and 'Research priorities of the autism community: A systematic review of key stakeholder perspectives' (Roche et al., 2021, Autism). Her contributions advance family-centered, evidence-based practices in special education.