Books by Kimberley McMahon-Coleman
Based on many years working with university students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this bo... more Based on many years working with university students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this book provides educators and support staff with practical strategies for addressing the challenges associated with ASD as they manifest in college and university environments.
Case studies of individual students provide real world examples of possible issues and successful interventions, making this an essential resource for all those involved in supporting students with ASD in tertiary education settings.
In recent years, shapeshifting characters in literature, film and television have been on the ris... more In recent years, shapeshifting characters in literature, film and television have been on the rise. This has followed the increased use of such characters as metaphors, with novelists and critics identifying specific meanings and topics behind them. This book aims to unravel the shapeshifting trope. Rather than pursue a case-based study, the works are grouped around specific themes--adolescence, gender, sexuality, race, disability, addiction, and spirituality--that are explored through the metaphor of shapeshifting. Because of its transformative possibilities and its flexibility, the shapeshifter has the potential to change how we see our world. With coverage of iconic fantasy texts and a focus on current works, this work engages with the shapeshifting figure in popular culture from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Papers by Kimberley McMahon-Coleman
Canada and Australia share a colonial history which featured an attempt to eradicate Indigenous s... more Canada and Australia share a colonial history which featured an attempt to eradicate Indigenous spirituality and language and which involved governmental intervention in areas such as health and education. The movement across traditional borders in order to access health and education created a kind of intra-national diasporic condition, which Indigenous peoples in these countries continue to negotiate on a daily basis.
BRILL eBooks, Feb 28, 2019
Families are important in the Harry Potter series. Harry\u27s loss of his parents is a key focal ... more Families are important in the Harry Potter series. Harry\u27s loss of his parents is a key focal point of the narrative, and the series is bookended by scenes that focus on family. Book One begins with Harry\u27s placement as a baby into the Dursley family environment-the opening sentence of the series setting up the issue of families, normality, and belonging-while Book Seven concludes with a scene about the adult Harry\u27s own family with his wife and children. A particular recurring theme is Harry\u27s mother\u27s love that protects and sustains him as he endures many trials and adventures. In this respect, mothering becomes a key concern throughout the series
Manchester University Press eBooks, Nov 1, 2015
Journal of Asia-Pacific pop culture, 2021
Television comedy You're the Worst (2014-19) traverses unusual territory by exploring mental heal... more Television comedy You're the Worst (2014-19) traverses unusual territory by exploring mental health disorders in a sustained manner. Rather than introducing short-term and unpredictable characters to explore the impact of mental health disorders, two of the ensemble cast's four lead characters have on-screen diagnoses of mental illness. Gretchen has clinical depression and Edgar, a veteran, has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The interplay of two characters with complex mental health conditions living in the one household is inarguably rare in popular television. This article explores the accuracy of these onscreen representations of episodic mental health challenges, as well as examining the responses of those around them as they try to understand and support these characters during periods when they are markedly unwell.
Journal of Asia-Pacific pop culture, 2016
The Vampire Diaries’ Elena Gilbert has always been constructed as a powerful teenager. In the nov... more The Vampire Diaries’ Elena Gilbert has always been constructed as a powerful teenager. In the novels by L. J. Smith and in the CW television series, Elena is always portrayed as popular, and independent and as having a great deal of freedom. The teenage dreams of Elena (Nina Dobrev) are shattered in a car accident, one that precipitates profound physical changes. She struggles to accept her circumstances, and is elated when she is later offered the slim chance of a cure: that perhaps, everything can be as it was once was. Elena has not become a wheelchair user, however, as is typical; instead, she has become a vampire. In this article, representations of vampirism will be explored through the lens of acquired disability, paying particular attention to the notion of the Temporarily Able-Bodied, the implications of a search for a cure, and how these impact on identity.
The 1980s Teen Wolf movies and the current MTV remake (2011-present) provide an interesting case ... more The 1980s Teen Wolf movies and the current MTV remake (2011-present) provide an interesting case study of the rebooting or re-imagining phenomenon. Both the filmic and television versions of the story follow ordinary high school-aged boys who suddenly discover that they are werewolves. In each case, this leads to popularity, sporting prowess, romance, and a number of other consequences, all of which the boysmust manage while facing the usual trials and tribulations of adolescence. The updated version has altered the names and back stories of some of themain characters, included a more passionate teen romance and, being in series format, has allowed for greater character development over the three seasons to date. In addition to significant improvements in the quality of special effects, the tone has changed markedly, with the series being noticeably darker
Autism spectrum disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent among university students (Dixon & ... more Autism spectrum disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent among university students (Dixon & Tanner, 2013). In order to better understand these students and accommodate their social disabilities in the classroom, academics need first to understand how the disorder presents. In a reversal of a 'Theory of Mind' strategy which uses television programs to teach people on the spectrum social skills, so too can neurotypical teaching staff get an insight into the thought processes of students on the spectrum by observing television characters who demonstrate the symptoms. Despite the show's refusal to 'diagnose' the character officially, Doc Martin's eponymous Dr Martin Ellingham is generally read by audiences as being on the spectrum. The show and the character offer insights into the workings of Martin's mind and humorously point out the social ramifications of his very literal thinking and non-existent bedside manner. This paper seeks to explore the ways in which this character from popular culture may be utilised as a means of addressing stigmas and misconceptions within the university classroom.
A rudimentary understanding of some of the atypical behaviors displayed by students with autism s... more A rudimentary understanding of some of the atypical behaviors displayed by students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be gleaned from watchÂing popular television representations of individuals commonly believed to be on the autism spectrum. A number of popular culture television programs, such as Bones and The Big Bang Theory (from the United States) and Doc Martin (from the United Kingdom) feature characters who.are often read by audiences as featuring characteristics that are symptomatic of autism. These cultural references provide an opportunity and a language to discuss such characteristics, and to understand how to accommodate them socially and in classrooms. This is a strategy that I have used to initiate conversations about the traits and learning needs of students on the spectrum with both my uniÂversity colleagues and pre-service teachers at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements inv... more Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong. represent the views of the University of Wollongong.
Diaporic literature" is a term frequently used to discuss writers who have written about transcul... more Diaporic literature" is a term frequently used to discuss writers who have written about transculturation and disjunction. Hence some literature can be classified as belonging to a sub-class o f "Indigenous Diaspora, " where the authors ' work is informed by their p eo p le's histories o f transplantation, dispossession and alienation at the hands o f colonial regimes. The Murri writer Sam Watson and Nyoongar author Kim Scott both fit into this category. The work o f both novelists also shares a focus on shamanism and traditional magic, allowing fo r an exploration o f spirituality and pow er from two cultural sources-that o f the colonised and o f the coloniser. It was fo r these reasons that I chose to link the authors in question when writing my doctoral thesis. In the course o f my research, however, yet another intriguing similarity emerged-in Watson's The Kadaitcha Sung and Scott's Benang: from the heart, women are largely absent, or at best play a supporting role. Alternative forms o f masculinities are explored, and accepted moral 'standards'â– -as enforced by Christian colonisers-are questioned through the presentation o f non-monogamous, and indeed, nonheteronormative, relationships. This has further complicated the already-fraught issue o f authority-has a non-Indigenous person the right to critically analyse and evaluate the work o f an Indigenous writer? And how does a female researcher reconcile working with texts which are, at times, misogynistic? In the end this paper seeks to explore the complex issues raised in the texts o f marginalised authors, and the impact that these authors ' decisions have on readers and critics.
Journal of Academic Language and Learning, May 31, 2012
The support and success of students with disabilities is a key aspect of the social inclusion age... more The support and success of students with disabilities is a key aspect of the social inclusion agenda. This cohort has been identified by the Bradley Report as one of the under-represented student groups requiring attention. In recent years, Australian universities have reflected a marked increase in students with registered disabilities. Many of these are "invisible" disabilities such as learning disorders, mental health disorders, or students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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Books by Kimberley McMahon-Coleman
Case studies of individual students provide real world examples of possible issues and successful interventions, making this an essential resource for all those involved in supporting students with ASD in tertiary education settings.
Papers by Kimberley McMahon-Coleman
Case studies of individual students provide real world examples of possible issues and successful interventions, making this an essential resource for all those involved in supporting students with ASD in tertiary education settings.