Mrs Rachel Griffiths

Rachel is a Senior Educator Developer (FHEA) and leads the University of Exeter's inclusive education project,  advising on strategy, policy and practice that fosters learning at Exeter that is inclusive and accessible for everyone.  She is also a doctoral student in the School of Education, funded by ESRC (SWDTP) to research neurodivergent identities in higher education.  She is passionate about public engaged research and sits on the University of Exeter's Public Engaged Research Strategic Advisory Group.

Rachel works on projects and initiatives under Exeter's Transformative Education Framework, Access and Participation Plan and Mental Health Charter accreditation.  She recently led the strategic project to implement a new institutional Accessible Teaching and Learning Policy, introducing minimum baseline standards of accessibility in all teaching provision at University of Exeter. She designs and delivers CPD activities and writes resources about a wide range of neurodiversity- and inclusive education-related subjects, and teaches on Exeter's LTHE programme.  Rachel also assesses on Exeter's professional recognition pathway (ASPIRE) and is a reviewer of submissions to the national Association of Learning Development in Higher Education's neurodivergence resource bank.

Rachel co-ordinated the University’s first Neurodiversity Celebration Week activities, co-founded and runs Exeter's Neurodiversity Café (the social group for neurodivergent staff and postgraduate researchers). She co-runs the national Association of Learning Development in Higher Education's Neurodiversity Community of Practice (Neurodiversity - ALDinHE).   

Rachel previously worked in higher education as a Disabled Students’ Allowance-funded Specialist Autism and Mental Health Mentor, and a Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor. A qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor, she has also worked in further education as a sixth-form college mental health practitioner, and in primary education as an SEND classroom support assistant. 

Since 2021, she has received many Above and Beyond awards in recognition of her excellent contribution to inclusion at the University of Exeter, the first Success for All award for breaking down barriers to inclusion, and was nominated for a Professional Services Recognition Award for her inclusion work at the University.