Associate Professor Deb Keen

Deb Keen

PhD, MA, BSpecEd, DipEd Psychology, BSc

Deputy Dean (Research), Faculty of Education, and Lecturer, School of Education and Professional Studies (Brisbane, Logan)

Contact Details for Associate Professor Deb Keen

For a full list of publications and more information please go to Professional page

Research expertise

Deb's research interests lie in interventions, education, and program evaluations that build capacity in families and communities, and enhance developmental and learning opportunities and outcomes for individuals with a disability, particularly autism.

Current grants

Current teaching areas

  • 7195CTS - Effective Practices for ASD
  • 7244CLS - Independent Project
  • 3212CLS - Applied Behaviour Analysis
  • 7194CLS - Prelinguistic Communication
  • 7191CLS - Augmentative and Alternative Comm.
  • 7195CLS - Curriculum for students with ASD
  • PPSE1 - Practicum (student supervision)

Publications

Peer reviewed refereed journal articles (from 2005 - current)

  • Dempsey, I., Keen, D., Pennell, D., O'Reilly, J. and Neilands, J. (Accepted 21 August 2008). Parent stress, parenting competence and family-centered support to young children with an intellectual or developmental disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities
  • Dempsey, I., and Keen, D. (2008). A review of processes and outcomes in family-centered services for children with a disability. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 28, 42-52
  • Rodger, S., Keen, D., Braithwaite, M., and Cook, S. (2008). Mothers, satisfaction with a home based early intervention program for children with ASD. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21, 174-182
  • Keen, D. (2007). Parents, families and partnerships: Issues and considerations. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 54, 330-349
  • Keen, D., Rodger, S., Doussin, K., and Braithwaite, M. (2007). A pilot study of the effects of a social pragmatic intervention on the communication and symbolic play of children with autism. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 11, 63-71
  • Keen, D., Brannigan, K., and Cuskelly, M. (2007). Toilet training for children with autism: The effects of video modelling. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 19, 291-303
  • Carroll, A., Keen, D., Davies, C., Skehan, T., and Fritz, E. (2005), Knowledge and understanding of choice diversity of residential care staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologists, 22, 84-97>
  • Keen, D. (2005). The use of non-verbal repair strategies by children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, 243-254
  • Keen, D., Sigafoos, J., and Woodyatt, G. (2005). Teacher responses to the communicative attempts of children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 17, 19-33

Non-refereed publications (from 2007 - current)

  • Keen, D. (2007). Parent, family, and professional relationships. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 54, 271-272

Book sections/chapters (from 2008 - current)

  • Rodger, S., and Keen, D. Child and family centred service provision. In S. Rodger (Ed) (2009). Occupation Centred Practice with Children: A Practical Guide for Occupational Therapists. Wiley Blackwell
  • Keen, D. (2008). Autism Spectrum Disorder Research. In Smith, S. and O'Reilly, B. The Australian Autism Handbook: The Essential Resource Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jane Curry Publishing
  • Keen, D., and Arthur-Kelly, M. Assessment, disabilities, and inclusion priorities. In C. Wyatt-Smith and J. Cumming (Eds) (2008). Educational Assessment in the 21st Century

Published book reviews, reports (from 2005 - current)

  • Keen, D. (2006). Book Review: Hermelin, B.(2001). Bright splinters of the mind. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 53, 277-278
  • Keen, D. (2006). Book Review: Lawson, W. (2001). Understanding and working with the spectrum of autism. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 53, 277-278
  • Keen, D. (2005). Book Review: Neisworth, J. and Wolfe, P. (Eds) (2005). The autism encyclopedia. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 52, 165-167

Conference presentations (from 2005 - current)

  • Keen, D. (November 2007). Seizing the moment: enhancing learning opportunities for children with autism. Invited keynote presented at the 6th Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Forum, Melbourne, Australia
  • Keen, D. (November 2007). Impact of an early intervention program on parenting stress and competence of mothers and fathers who have a child with autism. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Perth, Australia
  • Dempsey, I., and Keen, D. (November 2007). Service processes and family outcomes in family-centered services for children with a developmental disability. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Perth, Australia
  • Rodger, S., and Keen, D. (June 2007). Best practice in parent education: What does it look like? Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Conference., Hong Kong
  • Keen, D. (March 2007). How are children with autism engaging? Paper at the Biennial National Autism Conference, Gold Coast, Australia
  • Keen, D. (March 2007). Parenting stress and competence of mothers and fathers who have a child with autism. Paper at the Biennial National Autism Conference, Gold Coast, Australia
  • Keen, D. (September 2006). Parent professional relationships: First early intervention experiences. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Canberra, Australia
  • Keen, D. (September 2006). Parent professional relationships: Diagnostic experiences. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Canberra, Australia
  • Rodger, S., and Keen, D. (July 2006). Best practice in parent education: Growing stronger, parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, Sydney, Australia
  • Keen, D. (June, 2006). Family centred practice: Engaging with families that have a young child with autism. Praxis at the Caroline Chisholm Centre (Queensland University of Technology and Brisbane Catholic Education)
  • Keen, D. (April, 2006). Parent professional relationships: Early experiences. Invited presentation at Trends in Autism and Asperger Syndrome Symposium, Brisbane, Australia
  • Keen, D. (December, 2005). Family based intervention: Theory, evidence, practice. Paper presented at the Medical Specialist Seminar: Therapies for ASD, conventional and unconventional. Brisbane, Australia
  • Keen, D. (October, 2005). Effects of an early intervention program on the social communication of children with autism. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Knox, M., and Keen, D. (October, 2005). Transition: A lifelong journey. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Keen, D. (July, 2005). Being responsive: building stronger families. Invited keynote to the Australian Research Symposium: International and National Research Initiatives on Treatments for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sydney, Australia
  • Keen, D. (June, 2005). Innovative approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Workshop for the Australian Psychological Society Colleges of Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists, Brisbane, Australia
  • Keen, D. (June, 2005). Being family centred. Invited keynote for the Cerebral Palsy League Annual Conference, Brisbane, Australia
  • Keen, D. (June, 2005). Investigating change in social communication following early intervention for children with autism. Paper presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Boston, USA
  • Keen, D. (February, 2005). Leaders leading leaders, sharing the journey and learning of evidence based practice. Invited presentation to the National Safe Schools Framework: Rethinking Behaviour Management Conference, Education Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • Keen, D., and Rodger, S. (January, 2005). Being responsive: you and your child with autism. Presentation for the Gold Coast ASD Support Group

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