SRA Training

Research with People with Disabilities
Summary:	The course recognises that social research with people with disabilities should be designed and carried out in a manner consistent with the social model of disability whilst acknowledging the embodied experience of people with impairments. To this end, participants evaluate the nature and meaning of different types of impairments. They then explore the social roots of disability in the context of social research and consider how research methods can best be adapted to eliminate socially grounded disability from the research process. Research ethics are intrinsic to the course, and ethical issues – from informed consent to action / emancipatory research – are discussed by means of real case studies supplemented with hypothetical exercises. The course maximises active learning for trainees through extensive use of exemplary material, case studies and participatory educational methods.
Objectives:	To gain an understanding of the medical and social models of disability To explore the relevance of the social model of disability for the conduct of social research To develop understanding of the effects of cross-cutting statuses and disability To sensitise participants to ethical concerns arising from the social model of disability To inform participants about the policy context for research with people with disabilities To build up awareness of the range of types of impairments and the different ways they may affect the conduct of social research To develop expertise in adapting commonly used research methods for research with people with disabilities To become familiar with a variety of real life examples of research with people with disabilities To evaluate the particular relevance of participatory and peer-led research for research with people with disabilities To develop competence to incorporate participation into research with people with disabilities
Topics:	Understanding Disability: the Social Model Context for Research with People with Disabilities: Policy Environment; the Social Experience of Disability by People with Different Impairments Adapting Research Methods: Case Studies Exploring a Range of Methodologies Participatory Approaches: How Participation can be Incorporated into the Research Process
Who will benefit?	Early career social researchers and more experienced researchers wanting to enhance their skills for conducting research with people with disabilities
Learning outcomes:	Following this course, trainees will have acquired working knowledge of the social model of disability and the ability to apply it to research with disabled people, taking into account how impairment interrelates with social barriers expertise in adapting a variety of social research methods, including participatory methods, to the requirements of research with people with different impairments proficiency in recognising and effectively addressing ethical concerns that arise in research with disabled people reflexive understanding of the standpoint of disabled people as potential research participants practical experience of the issues raised by research with disabled people through working with hypothetical examples based on real world research projects
Course tutor:	Dr Charlotte Davies, Senior Lecturer specialising in Social Research Methods 1992-2008, currently Honorary Research Fellow, Swansea University. Dr Stephanie Jones, Coordinator OPAN Cymru (Older People and Ageing Research and Development Network), Swansea University
Date & Location:	Date: TBC Location: Cardiff
Programme	Download Programme to follow and booking form (doc)