Anti-ableist developments

Anti-Ableist Developments
Leads: Dr Lauren White and Dr Daniel P Jones 
Project Partners: Speakup Self-advocacy, Rotherham

2.1. Accessible Events
Problem: Inaccessible academic events are routinely held in universities that exclude disabled people.
Plan: Devising guidelines and other creative and dialogical mediums for reflecting on and developing accessible events. We will work towards normalising accessible events. This includes resources co-produced with Speak-up Self Advocacy on Accessible Events. This builds upon the work led by our WAARC colleague Dr Antonios Ktenidis on the experiences of minoritised groups at research conferences. This was supported by colleagues at the Centre for Equity and Inclusion.  We build upon this work on accessibility guides and recommendations and do so with disabled researchers and project partners. This can include information and training resources provided to event organisers at the University.  Our overarching goal is to ensure that access is embedded, rather than treating access as an afterthought or as a response. This prioritises accessibility as core to event organising, and not an ‘additional need’ to be met.  We will conduct creative workshops with the TUOS research community in order to develop conversations and emerging considerations around accessible academic events. 

Deliverable: Guidelines and other creative and dialogical mediums, and other training resources to enable conversations surrounding accessible academic events. 

2.2. Research Methods 
Problem: There is insufficient institutional knowledge about disability inclusive research methods.  
Plan: A collection of ‘Disability Inclusive Research Methods’ resources aimed at postgraduate taught/research students and Early Career Researchers. This includes inclusive research resources co-produced with Speak-up Self Advocacy.  Our hope is that these resources can support conversations and a small number of workshops to enable others to do disability inclusive research. This will apply to a range of academic disciplines, and academic and non-academic partnerships. This work builds upon, and showcases, existing participatory, inclusive and disability research at the University of Sheffield and beyond. This includes the work of the Participatory Research Network who have bespoke training and resources on intellectual property, payment and remuneration and creative dissemination. It also includes the work that Speak-up Self Advocacy have led in relation to disability-inclusive research projects. 

Our intention is to consider all research stages and a broader ethos of inclusion and accessibility which may include teaching, learning and communication. We will conduct creative workshops with the TUOS research community in order to develop conversations and emerging considerations around disability inclusive research methods. 

Deliverable: A collection of resources that can support conversations and workshops surrounding inclusive research methods that can be applied to a range of academic disciplines.  These might include:

• A set of Guidelines for hosting anti-ableist and inclusive hybrid research events.
• A new Inclusive Research Methods course for all researchers in TUOS.