Maria Efstratopoulou

Maria Efstratopoulou is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the United Arab Emirates University. Before joining UAEU, she was a Senior Lecturer at BGUniversity in the UK teaching at the Graduate Program in Special Education and Inclusion. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and also a European Master in Psychomotor Therapy for Children (KULeuven, Belgium) and a Master in Human Performance and Health for Special Populations (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece). Dr. Maria’s research interests include Motor Behaviour and Assessment and Diagnostical Procedures for children with emotional, behavioural and developmental disorders. She has many years of experience working with children in both educational and clinical settings and she is experienced in the education of teachers and Special Education professionals. Before starting her academic career, Dr. Efstratopoulou was a researcher at the Research Unit for Psychomotor Therapy for children at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, working with children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders and children with motor, emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties. Dr. Maria has been an active researcher with International Cooperation in Research for more than 15 years in Special Education, Psychomotor, and Child Psychology. She is the author of 4 books on Special Education and has published many research articles in peer-reviewed journals. She is a Core Member of the EFP (European Framework in Psychomotor) in Research and she acts as an Editorial Board member and Senior reviewer for several review journals in the field of Education.

Publications

Investigating the Impact of Physical Activity in Enhancing the Well-Being of Children Affected by Emotional, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders
Investigating the Impact of Physical Activity in Enhancing the Well-Being of Children Affected by Emotional, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders
Maria Efstratopoulou, Omniah Al Qahtani. © 2024. 18 pages.
Children's mental health problems have emerged from a long history of misunderstanding and neglect, becoming the central concern of researchers, educators, and practitioners....
Empowering All Students: Revolutionizing Education with Gamification, Project-Based Learning, and Inclusive Support
Empowering All Students: Revolutionizing Education with Gamification, Project-Based Learning, and Inclusive Support
Maria Efstratopoulou, Zubaida Shraim, Hadeel Saleh. © 2024. 14 pages.
This chapter focuses on innovative teaching strategies for students of determination in UAE. Gamification, project-based learning, and innovative use of technology in special...
Specific Learning Disabilities and Psychosocial Difficulties in Children
Specific Learning Disabilities and Psychosocial Difficulties in Children
Maria Sofologi, Georgios A. Kougioumtzis, Maria Efstratopoulou, Efthalia Skoura, Savvoula Sagia, Styliani Karvela, Panagiota Myrto Salli, Evangelia Makri, Eleni Bonti. © 2022. 24 pages.
Children with specific learning disorders (SLDs) exhibit academic difficulties disproportional to their intellectual capabilities. A significant percentage of school-aged...
Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education
Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education
Maria Efstratopoulou. © 2022. 348 pages.
Diversity creates a rich environment for ideas to evolve into new and more refined forms. This pedagogical approach can help students to appreciate and value all forms of...
Assistive Technology for Children With ADHD: Between Reality and the Desired
Assistive Technology for Children With ADHD: Between Reality and the Desired
Abeer Arafa Eldib, Maria Efstratopoulou, Hala Mutwalli Elhoweris. © 2022. 30 pages.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders worldwide, affecting both children and adults. It has significant impacts on the social...
The Role of Assistive Technology in Teaching Children With ASD in UAE
The Role of Assistive Technology in Teaching Children With ASD in UAE
Omniah AlQahtani, Maria Efstratopoulou, Hala Elhoweris. © 2022. 19 pages.
Assistive technology can be defined as any device or equipment that assists in teaching new skills, augments existing skills, or reduces the impact of disability on daily...
Linguistically-Responsive Educational Framework for Multilingual Contexts: Supporting Children's Academic Achievement
Linguistically-Responsive Educational Framework for Multilingual Contexts: Supporting Children's Academic Achievement
Rasak Annayat Lone, Maria Efstratopoulou. © 2022. 18 pages.
It is estimated that 221 million primary-aged children from remote rural areas, linguistic minority, and ethnic communities who speak a different language at home and have no...
Accepting Diversity Before Fighting for Inclusion: First Moments of the Family After the Disability Diagnosis
Accepting Diversity Before Fighting for Inclusion: First Moments of the Family After the Disability Diagnosis
Alexandros Argyriadis, Maria Efstratopoulou, Agathi Argyriadi. © 2022. 15 pages.
Announcing the diagnosis of a disability constitutes a psycho-traumatic experience for parents. At the stage of diagnosis, the family experiences emotions that range from...