Harsharan Thethi

Proposed Title

School- to- post- school transition for students with autism and Intellectual disabilities from culturally and linguistic diverse (CaLD) backgrounds.

Supervisors

Principal Supervisor: Dr Rahul Ganguly
Co-Supervisor: Dr Shuklar Sikder

Research

My research aims to explore school-level transition services that facilitate students’ integration into community living, employment, post-secondary education, or independent living. By addressing these aspects, I hope to enhance post-school outcomes for students with disabilities.

I have formulated three key research questions:

  1. To what extent are culturally and linguistic diverse (CaLD) background youth with autism and intellectual disabilities accessing postsecondary education preparation?
  2. What is the relationship between parents' culturally diverse backgrounds and their perceptions of school-based transition practices?
  3. How have parents learned about transition practices for their children at school, and what barriers have they faced in understanding these pathways?

Why I chose Charles Sturt

I completed a Master’s in Inclusive Education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2020 and a Graduate Certificate in Arts and Social Science Research in 2023, with a focus on preservice teachers’ beliefs regarding inclusive education. Currently, I serve as the head teacher of a support unit at a comprehensive high school, where I collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities into work placements upon their exit from school.

Motived by my role as an inclusive practitioner, I am keen to enhance my knowledge and skills in addressing transition barriers for students with disabilities. I recognize a significant gap in research regarding the role of CaLD parents and the challenges they encounter as their children with disabilities transition out of school.

Engagement and Memberships

I am a member of Australian Association of Special Education (AASE).

Publications

I presented my ethnographic study on Universal Design for Learning at the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) conference. Additionally, I shared my knowledge, skills, and findings from this study at the Universal Design for Learning conference in the USA.

Current candidate profiles