Frances Gentle is a lecturer at NextSense Institute.

Her role includes coordination and lecturing of postgraduate courses in the field of sensory disability, as well as research into current issues relating to education of children experiencing blindness, low vision and deafblindness. Frances completed her doctoral studies in early 2012 and received the 2012 University of Newcastle Award for Regional Leadership.

Frances has worked in the education and disability fields for approximately 30 years. She received the honour of Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in 2018 for distinguished service to people who are blind or have low vision, particularly in the area of special education and policy development and practice on inclusiveness and standards. In 2019, Frances was awarded a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the University of Newcastle.

She is involved in a range of international and regional organisations including the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (President); the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (Co-President and Member of the Editorial Committee for the SPEVI Journal); and Executive Member, World Braille Council.

Contact

Specialities

• Contemporary issues associated with educational standards and pedagogy
• Braille literacy and numeracy development
• Curriculum and instructional approaches to education for students with vision loss, including those with additional disabilities
• National planning and priority setting promoting education for children with disabilities in Asia-Pacific region