Biography
Jo is a Speech Pathologist and researcher with over 25 years experience in the disability sector as a clinician, trainer, support worker, family member and researcher. Jo has worked in Australia, China, Hong Kong and the United States within these roles.
Jo's PhD explored supported decision-making mechanisms with people with severe-profound intellectual disabilities and those who care for and about them.
Jo has a special interest in working with and supporting people with severe to profound intellectual disability and their supporters, augmentative and alternative communication, assistive technology, supported decision-making, and the application of digital technologies in her teaching and practice.
Jo's publications include book chapters and peer and non-peer reviewed academic journals and publications. Jo presents widely in the area of disability and communication disorders within Australia and internationally.
Jo has an active following on Twitter. Her Twitter handle is @jowat
Read more on Joanne's profileCareer highlights
TedX inspired Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMerG7CULJE
Keynote address
Inclusion: A universal human right?
https://vimeo.com/23019913
Affiliations
Memberships:
International Society on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC)
Australian Group on Severe Communication Impairment (AGOSCI)
International Association on Intellectual Disability (IASSID)
Australian Society on Intellectual Disability (ASID)
Graduate Women Victoria (GWV)
Amnesty International
Teaching interests
- Augmentative and Alternative communication
- Inclusion
- Severe to profound intellectual disability
- UNCRPD
- Supported decision-making
- Assistive technology
Units taught
H508 - Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion
- HDS730 - Disability and inclusion: contemporary theory and lived experience
- HDS731 - Planning for inclusion across the life course
- HDS732 - Determinants of health and well-being in the lives of people with disability
- HDS733 - Community capacity building –theory and practice for inclusion
H608 - Graduate Diploma of Disability and Inclusion
- HDS734 - Inclusive technology and design
Knowledge areas
Severe and profound intellectual disability, individualised supports, supported decision-making, and augmentative communication (AAC).
Awards
Graduate Women Victoria Madeleine Capicchiano Bursary 2015
Yungaburra Foundation Award, Deakin University 2015
Finalist in Victorian Disability Awards (Lifetime achievement award) 2014
ISAAC Travel award 2014
Scholarship Victorian Department of Human Services Office of Senior Practitioner Ph.D Scholarship 2010
Victorian Department of Human Services Ethel Temby Study tour scholarship 2005
Assistive Technology Achievement Award from Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology 2001
Projects
Listening to those rarely heard: Supported decision-making for people with severe to profound intellectual disability
Video available at: https://vimeo.com/21176882
Publications
M Higgins, M Murad, K Robinson, A Dew, K Boydell, F McKay, J Watson, M Coello, L Smith, K Johnson, R Wells
(2023), pp. 305-321, Research Handbook on Disability Policy, B1
E Watson, P Raghavendra, S Lawn, J Watson
(2023), Vol. 45, pp. 3388-3406, Disability and Rehabilitation, London, Eng., C1
J Watson
(2023), pp. 1-8, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, London, Eng., C1
Bikes for all: How customised bicycles impact participation in sport and recreation
Sally Logan, Valerie Watchorn, Kate Anderson, Danielle Hitch, Pearse Fay, Joanne Watson, Dion Williams, Stephanie Sorraghan
(2023), Vol. 70, pp. 57-58, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, London, Eng., C1-1
Susan Taylor, Jennifer David, Angela Dew, Joanne Watson
(2023), pp. 1-4, Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, London, Eng., C1-1
J Watson, J Anderson, E Wilson, K Anderson
(2022), Vol. 44, pp. 2806-2814, Disability and Rehabilitation, England, C1
K Denney, K Anderson, J Watson
(2022), pp. 1-9, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, London, Eng., C1
Stefan Greuter, Joanne Watson, Susan Balandin
(2022), Vol. 14, pp. 1-21, International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, Hershey, Pa., C1
Education/Training Interventions to Improve Oral Health of Adults with Intellectual Disability
T Kangutkar, H Calache, J Watson, S Taylor, S Balandin
(2022), Vol. 10, Healthcare (Switzerland), C1
Every voice counts: exploring communication accessible research methods
B Dee-Price, L Hallahan, D Nelson Bryen, J Watson
(2021), Vol. 36, pp. 240-264, Disability and Society, C1
H Pitt, S Thomas, J Watson, R Shuttleworth, K Murfitt, S Balandin
(2021), Vol. 8, Frontiers in Public Health, Switzerland, C1
"It was one of those complicated cases": health practitioners' perspectives and practices of providing end-of-life care for people with profound intellectual and multiple disability
H Voss, A Loxton, J Anderson, J Watson
(2021), Vol. 20, BMC Palliative Care, C1
S Dean, J Marshall, E Whelan, J Watson, C Zorbas, A Cameron
(2021), Vol. 10, pp. 255-266, Current Nutrition Reports, United States, C1
A Arstein-Kerslake, E O’Donnell, R Kayess, J Watson
(2021), Vol. 30, pp. 530-555, Griffith Law Review, London, Eng., C1
H Pitt, S Thomas, J Watson, R Shuttleworth, K Murfitt, S Balandin
(2020), Vol. 20, BMC Public Health, England, C1
The role of speech-language pathology in supporting legal capacity
J Watson
(2019), Vol. 21, pp. 25-28, Journal of clinical practice in speech language pathology, Melbourne, Vic., C1
J Watson, H Voss, M Bloomer
(2019), Vol. 44, pp. 267-279, Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, C1
Pregnancy and infant loss: a survey of families' experiences in Ontario Canada
Jo Watson, Anne Simmonds, Michelle La Fontaine, Megan Fockler
(2019), Vol. 19, pp. 1-14, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, London, Eng., C1-1
S Greuter, S Balandin, J Watson
(2019), pp. 429-435, CHI PLAY 2019 : Extended Abstracts of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play, Barcelona, Spain, E1
Ageism, moral agency and autonomy: getting beyond guardianship in the 21st century
G Quinn, A Gur, J Watson
(2018), pp. 50-73, Ageing, ageism & the law: European perspectives on the rights of older persons, London, Eng., B1
Future direction in supported decision making
A Arstein-Kerslake, J Watson, M Browning, J Martinis, P Blanck
(2017), Vol. 37, Disability studies quartely, Columbus, Oh., C1
J Watson, E Wilson, N Hagiliassis
(2017), Vol. 30, pp. 1022-1034, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, England, C1
Pregnancy subsequent to stillbirth: Medical and psychosocial aspects of care
Megan Fockler, Noor Ladhani, Jo Watson, Jon Barrett
(2017), Vol. 22, pp. 186-192, Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Watson
(2016), Vol. 5, pp. 1-9, Laws, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Assessing communication in people with severe-profound disabilities: co-constructing competence
H Johnson, J Watson, T Iacono, K Bloomberg, D West
(2012), Vol. 14, pp. 64-68, Journal of clinical practice in speech-language pathology, Melbourne, Vic., C1-1
Jo Watson, Ellen Hodnett, B Armson, Barbara Davies, Judy Watt‐Watson
(2012), Vol. 41, pp. 24-32, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, United States, C1-1
J Watson
(2012), pp. 38-48, Services and families working together to support adults with intellectual disability : Proceedings of the 6th Annual Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy, Melbourne, Victoria, E1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Inclusive Health Communication in Specialist Disability Accommodation
Dr Kate Anderson, Dr Joanne Watson, Dr Meredith Prain, Nathan Wilson, Prof Angela Dew, Patricia Frawley, Dr Amie O'Shea, A/Prof Melissa Bloomer, Prof Catherine Bennett
MRFF (DISER) - CRR Communications Strategies and Approaches During Outbreaks Grant
- 2021: $109,047
Co-designing Resources to Increase Access to Information and Services: Syrian and Iraqi people with disability from refugee backgrounds and service providers
Prof Angela Dew, Dr Louisa Smith, Dr Kim Robinson, Dr Joanne Watson, Hon Prof Kelley Johnson, Dr Caroline Lenette, Prof Katherine Boydell, Dr Maree Higgins
NDRP Funding Round - National Disability Research Partnership
- 2022: $70,084
- 2021: $46,723
Other Public Sector Funding
Supported Decision Making - Listening to those seldom heard PhD Student Jo Watson
A/Prof Erin Wilson, Dr Joanne Watson
DHSV - Scholarship
- 2012: $3,000
- 2011: $28,000
- 2010: $59,000
Evaluation of the OVAL project
Prof Susan Balandin, A/Prof Erin Wilson, A/Prof Patsie Frawley, Dr Joanne Watson
Office of the Public Advocate
- 2016: $64,586
People with lifelong disability and their lived experiences of gambling
Dr Hannah Pitt, Dr Joanne Watson, Miss Amy Bestman, Prof Samantha Thomas, Prof Susan Balandin
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
- 2020: $24,809
- 2019: $14,885
- 2018: $9,923
National Disability Research Agenda
Prof Angela Dew, Dr Kevin Murfitt, Dr Joanne Watson, Dr Amie O'Shea, Dr Kate Anderson
Department of Social Services
- 2022: $5,000
- 2021: $34,910
CDAH Project (RM40065)
Dr Louisa Smith, Ms Sue Taylor, Dr Joanne Watson, Prof Angela Dew
Department of Social Services
- 2021: $20,000
Industry and Other Funding
Social skills games are fun
Prof Susan Balandin, Prof Stefan Greuter, Dr Joanne Watson
Telematics Trust Small Grants Program
- 2018: $50,000
Deakin University Evaluation of Five Clients Moving into New 'Smart House'.
Mr Pearse Fay, Dr Joanne Watson
SJGHosp Grant - Research - St John of God Health Care Inc
- 2021: $33,772
- 2020: $20,000
- 2019: $18,622
- 2018: $41,378
My Active Life Program Evaluation
Ms Valerie Watchorn, Dr Kate Anderson, Dr Danielle Hitch, Dr Joanne Watson, Mr Pearse Fay, Ms Sally Logan
Solve Disability Solutions Inc
- 2023: $38,160
- 2022: $300
- 2021: $68,965
Microboards Australia Program Evaluation
Dr Joanne Watson, Prof Angela Dew
Microboards Australia Ltd
- 2023: $19,283
- 2021: $20,000
Deafblind Connect evaluation.
Dr Amie O'Shea, Dr Joanne Watson, Dr Jennifer David
Community Disability Alliance Hunter Incorporated
- 2022: $30,000
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report