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I graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid with a BSc in Psychology in 1995. After graduating I worked as a researcher in the Hospital de la Princesa (Madrid) and in the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. In 1997 I moved to Britain to work at the University of Kent on a research project investigating early signs of autism. Soon after, in 1998, I started my doctorate in Psychology investigating cognitive abilities in children with autism. Since the completion of my doctoral thesis at the University of Durham in 2001, I have worked as a lecturer in Psychology in York St John College and the University of the West of England until I took my post here in September 2008.

My main research interests fall within the area of cognitive development with a particular focus on autism. Most of my research has explored how children with autism and typically developing children integrate perceptual and contextual information. Recently, I have developed an interest on how socio-cultural factors affect cognitive development in autism.

I am the founder of the AutismResearchNetwork, a network aimed at bringing together academics, practitioners and people with autism and their families. For more information on research and community projects please visit our website .

I am also the founder of the  which has been set up in collaboration with four local authorities and funded by the Department of Health.