Professor Burns is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. Professor Burns has worked as a clinical psychologist with people with intellectual disabilities in the NHS and has carried out research in this area throughout her career.  Prof Burns has previously been the programme Director for the Salomons Institute Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and has contributed to the development of the profession in the UK. In the later part of her career, she has focussed specifically on the impact of sport for people with intellectual disabilities. She is Head of Eligibility for the International Federation for Para-athletes with Intellectual Impairments (INAS) and a Board member of the Special Olympics UK. Prof Burns worked with an international team of researchers and the International Paralympic Committee to re-include athletes with intellectual disabilities in the Paralympics for London 2012. In 2015, she was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal for her work with people with intellectual disabilities.

View Jan’s Abstract: Going for Gold: Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities – their journey of inclusion