Her research explores social and cultural theory including representations of disability in visual culture and particularly the cultural construction of understandings of mental disability through both historical and contemporary representations. She has published in journals including Studies in Art Education, Disability Studies Quarterly, Visual Arts Research, International Review of Qualitative Research, Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies and Art Education. Her artwork explores similar themes related to the representation of mental disability through multimedia installation and video. Dr. Richardson is also a creative writer and the author of both creative nonfiction and poetry. Her 2013 essay published in South Loop Review was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.