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Professor Olive Healy

Professor in ABA (Psychology)
      
Profile Photo

Professor Olive Healy

Professor in ABA (Psychology)

 Olive.Healy@tcd.ie

 3531896


Project Title
 Dissemination of evidence-based practice to professionals working in the field of intellectual disability: An evaluation of training protocols, treatment compliance, and generalisation.
From
2015
To
2018
Summary
The current research aims to effectively disseminate evidence-based practice (EBP) to professionals working in the field of intellectual disability. The impact of this dissemination will then be analysed and evaluated, in terms of staff and organisational outcomes. Therefore, the following questions must be addressed: What are the most productive methods for disseminating and supporting the adoption of EBPs in care settings? How can direct support staff be effectively assisted to generalise EBPs to novel circumstances? What variables relating to training methods contribute to effective outcomes? What variables relating to the treatment environment are associated with positive outcomes? What are the long-term outcomes associated with staff training in EBP? What are the benefits to service users, staff and the larger organisation, by effectively adopting an EBP approach to service delivery?
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Project Type
PhD
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Tackling Teenage Training
From
2016
To
2017
Summary
An evaluation of a psychosexual intervention with adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Funding Agency
Pobal Dormant Account
Person Months
12
Project Title
 InterAcT®- Accomplish & Thrive
From
To
Summary
This project aims to improve life experiences for autistic children and those with an intellectual or developmental disability through assistive technology solutions. With Dr. Rhona Dempsey (co-founder), we have designed a mobile application employing psychosocial behavioural interventions that can be used to ease stress and reduce fearful responding that impacts quality of life. We are developing this app further to investigate threat value as a stimulus feature and the transfer of responding that can occur between stimuli sharing this feature. This will further inform the technology on personalised solutions for avoidance action for example.
Funding Agency
Enterprise Ireland
Project Title
 AIm CP Achieving Improved outcomes for children with Cerebral Palsy
From
To
Summary
This is an interdisciplinary research programme with four funded PhDs across four disciplines. The purpose is to work across disciplines to improve outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Interdisciplinary collaboration connects research within schools and faculties in Trinity College Dublin (School of Bioengineering, School of Psychology, School of Medicine the School of Computer Science and Statistics, Discipline of Occupational Therapy) and with external collaborators (Central Remedial Clinic).
Funding Agency
Trintiy College Dublin
Project Type
Group-Based PhD Award
Project Title
 AutReflex Retained Primitive Reflexes in Autism
From
To
Summary
In order to identify autistic core symptoms, and initiate interventions, at the earliest possible age, research has explored potential precursors or biomarkers for ASD. While not currently incorporated in clinical diagnostic practice, a number of biomarkers have been recently proposed. Developmental biomarkers are a type of biomarker for autism that has been examined in recent years. As the central nervous system matures, spontaneous, involuntary movements are suppressed and replaced with more functional, goal directed movements. One specific class of involuntary movements, known as Primary Reflexes (PR), has been suggested to be atypical among persons with ASD. This programme of research investigates the utility of PR measurements as predictors of autistic symptoms, co-occurring difficulties and learning performances.

Details Date
Associate Editor: Learning and Motivation. 2021-Present
Associate Editor: Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2012-2022
Associate Editor: Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 2011-Present
Associate Editor: Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2024-Present
Associate Editor: Journal of Behavioral Education 2019 - Present
Editorial Board Member: Behavior Analysis in Practice. 2017 - Present
Details Date From Date To
Association for Behavior Analysis International 2000 Present
The European Association of Behaviour Analysis 2000 Present
Psychological Society of Ireland 2006 Present
Division of Behaviour Analysis in Ireland (Psychological Society of Ireland) 1998 Present
International Society for Autism Research 2018 Present
Punishment-Based Behavioral Interventions in, editor(s)Sturmey, P., Lang, R. & Luiselli, J.K. , Lifespan Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Evidence-Based Guide for Professionals and Families, Oxford University Press, Oxford University Press, 2025, [Healy, O., McTiernan, A., Barry, L., Ryan, A., Holloway, J., & Dempsey, R.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Cooperation as a Gateway to Learning in, editor(s)Joshua Jessel , Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom, Springer Nature, Springer Nature, 2024, [Healy, O & Dempsey, R.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Ryan, A., Healy, O., & McTiernan, A., Barriers and Facilitators to Engaging With Behavior Analysis Services via Telehealth, 50th Annual Convention, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Philadelphia, PA., May 2024, 2024, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Olive Healy & Rhona Dempsey, 'InterAcT® (Accomplish & Thrive) at the Dentist', InterAcT® (Accomplish & Thrive), MVP, Adapt Centre, iOS and Android, 2024, -, Film production, PRODUCED
Olive Healy, Applied Behavior Analysis and Stepped, Personalized Models of Intervention in the Future of Services and Clinical Research in Autism, . 18th Annual Autism Conference Association of Behaviour Analysis International, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, March 20th 2024, 2024, Association of Behaviour Analysis International, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Doyle A., Healy O., Paterson J., Lewis K., Treanor D., What does an ADHD-friendly university look like? A case study from Ireland, International Journal of Educational Research Open, 7, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
MacGiollaPhadraig C., Healy O., Fisal A.A., Yarascavitch C., van Harten M., Nunn J., Newton T., Sturmey P., Asimakopoulou K., Daly B., Hosey M.T., Kammer P.V., Dougall A., Geddis-Regan A., Pradhan A., Setiawan A.S., Kerr B., Friedman C.S., Cornelius B.W., Stirling C., Hamzah S.Z., Decloux D., Molina G., Klingberg G., Ayup H., Buchanan H., Anjou H., Maura I., BernalFernandez I.R., LimeresPosse J., Hare J., Francis J., Norderyd J., Rohani M.M., Prabhu N., Ashley P.F., Marques P.F., Chopra S., Pani S.C., Kramer S., Behaviour support in dentistry: A Delphi study to agree terminology in behaviour management, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 52, (4), 2024, p550 - 571, p550-571 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Mac Giolla Phadraig, C., Healy, O., Fisal, A.A., Yarascavitch, C., van Harten, M., Nunn, J., Newton, T., Sturmey, P., Asimakopoulou, K., Daly, B., Hosey, M.T., Kammer, P.V., Dougall, A., Geddis-Regan, A., Pradhan, A., Setiawan, A.S., Kerr, B., Friedman, C.S., Cornelius, B.W., Stirling, C., Hamzah, S.Z., Decloux, D., Molina, G., Klingberg, G., Ayup, H., Buchanan, H., Anjou, H., Maura, I., Bernal Fernandez, I.R., Limeres Posse, J., Hare, J., Francis, J., Norderyd, J., Rohani, M.M., Prabhu, N., Ashley, P.F., Marques, P.F., Chopra, S., Pani, S.C., Krämer, S., Behaviour support in dentistry: A Delphi study to agree terminology in behaviour management, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Doyle, A., Healy, O., Paterson, J., Lewis, K., Treanor, D., What does an ADHD-friendly university look like? A case study from Ireland, International Journal of Educational Research Open, 7, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Olive Healy Rhona Dempsey, 'InterAcT® (Accomplish & Thrive) Smartphone App.', iOS & Android, 2024, -, Software, PUBLISHED
  

Page 1 of 19
Healy, O., Dempsey, R., & Farrell, F., Assistive Technologies to support independence in people with ASD/ID- Child and Family Population Health, - Child and Family Population Health. Featured in: Child Health Research Brochure, 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Olive Healy, 'World Book Day for All Children', The Irish Times, 2021, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Inaugural Award for Excellence in Supervision of Research Students. Main Award Category for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 2022
Trinity Research Excellence Award Nomination for Engaging Profoundly with our Publics 2023
Trinity Research Doctorate Awards supporting Group-based Research Projects 2023
Excellence in Local Government Award Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 2022
NDRC Pre-Accelerator Showcase 2022
MA (Jure Officii) Trinity College Dublin 2021
Nomination MacJannet Prize TCD 2015
Research Scientist Award for The Comprehension Application of Behaviour Analysis to Schooling, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York 2014
Distinguished Lecturer: Mollie Villeret Davis Annual Lecture. The Meadows Centre, College of Education, University of Texas at Austin 2013
My research is directly focused on behavioural, developmental and healthcare streams to improve life quality and related outcomes of people with complex neurodevelopmental, intellectual and behavioural difficulties through increasing and deepening our understanding of how this cohort learns, and how their needs change across the developmental life course. I engage in a fully integrated holistic approach linking basic and clinical research. I study reinforcement and other conditioning processes, with interests in translational research geared toward increasing the effectiveness of behavioural treatments and innovating to improve young lives. My current research develops novel, impactful and beneficial person-centered solutions through understanding the role of fundamental learning processes in conditional discrimination, behavioural persistence and evaluation of reinforcement schedules as treatment for debilitating behaviour difficulties, disorders of learning and behaviour, functional analysis of behaviour, and applying research methods for scalability and outreach. This is evidenced through my developing assistive and accessible technology platforms and tools delivered via smartphone apps and web-based resources for clinically relevant populations applying findings to improve clinical practice to benefit children"s lives. Key aspects include: 1. Conducting early-stage research in areas of unmet clinical need including diagnostics, very early therapeutic intervention and comprehensive strategies targeted at prevention; 2. Conducting clinical trials in community settings/clinics/hospitals and involving children and families including ASD/ID; ADHD; communication disorders, intellectual and specific learning disorders to examine novel intervention and scalability; 3. Dissemination of clinical behavioural interventions as evidence-based practices to health and education sectors to benefit improved education, training, skills and behavioural practice employing assistive technology and wearable devices; 4. Create a pivotal hub in the emerging network of European and global networks through collaborations and partnering, and to enhance the educational capacity of research in neurodevelopmental conditions, not only in Ireland but in a larger European and international setting.