Personal information

Game Accessibility, Game-Based Learning, Inclusion, Diversity, Participation, Media Studies, Media Psychology
Portugal

Biography

Carla Sousa is a PhD in Communication Sciences from Lusófona University, where she also took her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, her Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, and a Postgraduate degree in Applied Neuropsychology. Her PhD thesis approached game accessibility as a path to empower and promote well-being in individuals with intellectual disability, which illustrates her main research targets – the different intersections between media, with a particular focus on games, inclusion, behavior, and human diversity. Also in Lusófona University, Carla is part of the Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture, and New Technologies (CICANT) and is an assistant professor in the Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Videogames. She published several papers as an author and co-author in peer-reviewed journals, and has done communications at national and international conferences in the fields of media studies, media psychology, games, accessibility, disability, social inclusion, learning, and education. Carla has been part of several national and internationally funded projects, both in research and management roles, including: GameIN (2022.07939.PTDC); TEGA (2020-1-UK01-KA203-079248); ID-Games (2019-1-EL01-KA204-062517); Youth for Youth (2020-2-HU01-KA205-079126); ASDigital (2020-1-PT01-KA226-SCH-094961); or GamiLearning (UTAP-ICDT/IVC-ESCT/0020/2014). Carla has also been involved in the organization of scientific events and scientific networks, being the chair of Working Group 2 in COST Action (CA 19104) - advancing Social inclusion through Technology and EmPowerment (a-Step), which aims to map the best practices and define a research agenda for the future of assistive technologies for individuals with intellectual disability and autism. Since 2022, Carla has been an individual ambassador for the non-profit Women in Games and, since 2023, a member of the advisory board of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA).

Activities

Employment (5)

Universidade Lusófona: Lisbon, PT

2021-04-01 to present | Science Manager (CICANT - Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona: Lisbon, PT

2021-03 to present | Assistant Professor (ECATI / EPCV)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona: Lisbon, PT

2016-03 to present | Integrated Researcher (CICANT - Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

APADP - Associação de Pais e Amigos de Deficientes Profundos: Sintra - Portugal, PT

2019-02-04 to 2021-03 | Psychologist and Head of Training (Departamento de Psicologia)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona: Lisbon, PT

2016-03 to 2018-10 | Research Grant Holder (CICANT - Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Education and qualifications (4)

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias: Lisbon, PT

2017-09 to present | PhD Communication Sciences
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2016 to 2017 | PG Applied Neuropsychology (EPCV - Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2013 to 2016 | MSc Clinical and Health Psychology (EPCV - Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2010 to 2013 | Psychology (EPCV - Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Professional activities (2)

Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses: Lisboa, PT

Member No. 22907
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Universidade Lusófona: Lisbon, PT

2017 | PhD Scholarship (ECATI - CICANT)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Carla Sousa

Funding (11)

YouNDigital - Jovens, Notícias e Cidadania Digital

2023-01-18 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Games Inclusion Lab: Participatory Media Creation Processes for Accessibility (GameIN)

2023-01-01 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: 2022.07939.PTDC
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

WIRE FilmEU

2023 to present | Contract
European Commission (Brussels, BE)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

No Barriers to Employment

2022-09-01 to present | Contract
European Commission (Brussels, BE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

2022-1-SE01-KA220-ADU-000089826

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

PlayersAll: agência nos média e empoderamento

2022-01-03 to 2023-07-02 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

EXPL/COM-OUT/0882/2021

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

The Little Entrepreneurs

2021-11 to 2021-11 | Contract
European Commission (Brussels, BE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

2020-1-TR01-KA227-SCH-098758

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

ASDigital - Distance learning training for secondary education teachers: using visual thinking as a method to teach digital skills to students with ASD.

2021-05 to 2023-04 | Contract
European Commission (Brussels, BE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

2020-1-PT01-KA226-SCH-094961

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

TESEO - Arianna's Strands on the Digital Age

2021-03 to 2021-10 | Contract
European Commission (Brussels, BE)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Sentir + Promoção do bem-estar através da estimulação sensorial em pessoas com Deficiência Intelectual e Idosos

2020-01 to 2021-01 | Contract
BPI (Porto, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

CT19-00066

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

GBL4deaf - Videojogos Educativos Acessíveis a Surdos

2019 to 2019 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

GamiLearning - Jogos Digitais para a Literacia Mediática e Informacional

2016-03 to 2018 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Peer review (22 reviews for 11 publications/grants)

Review activity for Applied sciences. (1)
Review activity for Behavioral sciences. (2)
Review activity for Computers & education. (1)
Review activity for Disabilities. (4)
Review activity for Disability and rehabilitation. (1)
Review activity for Education sciences. (7)
Review activity for Educational research. (1)
Review activity for Journal of research in childhood education : (1)
Review activity for Learning and instruction (1)
Review activity for Simulation & gaming (1)
Review activity for Technologies (2)