The Global South to North Disability Research Network E-Newsletter: Issue 7 (February, 2011) Compliments of the New Year, we welcome you to the 7th issue of the Global South to North Disability Research Network E-newsletter after a two-month break. This e-newsletter is in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University, Breakthrough UK Ltd, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University [South Africa]) and Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Disabled People International and African Network on Evidence-to-Action in Disability (AfriNEAD). I hope that you all started the New Year well. As we always say, the aims of our e-newsletter are to provide informal, off the press and informative monthly details of global south and global north disability research activities, which might be of interest to audiences including disability activists, organisations of disabled people, students, researchers, policy makers, families, practitioners and local authorities. This sharing and networking links into the aims of the Disability Studies Association (http://www.disabilitystudies.net/), African Network on Evidence-to-Action on Disability (www.afrinead.org) and Disabled People International (www.dpi.org). We look forward to your contributions for the 8th Edition by latest 15 March, 2011 to enable us to put together the e-newsletter on time. We would appreciate to have contributions from all the continents so that we establish stronger links between the Global South and Global North. When contributing, please include the following: a)  Funding priorities which readers might be able to link into for funding bids. The details of your institution and one contact person and their email address. b) Monthly commitment to provide us with BRIEF information (including related web links) about disability research activities you and your colleagues are involved with. This could be no more than a few lines. Please ensure that you do not send attachments as we want to keep it workable, informal and relatively easy to read. c) To provide details on such things as news on forthcoming publications; conferences/seminars you are attending or hosting; funding opportunities of interest to disability researchers; news from local and national government; international disability issues; stories from research; ideas for research that you would like to explore with interested others; disability studies teaching materials and resources; links to new policy and user consultation, theses, etc? d) To provide in your email information categorised in terms of your institution e.g. News from the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University or Activities of the Disability Studies team at University of Cape Town, etc. e) To make the email simple text without loads of formatting for ease of putting together the online e-newsletter. f) To posit other ideas for developing the e-newsletter. When submitting, please remember to use simple text version for easy accessibility. Once again, thank you for your support, and please submit your contributions to Tsitsi at: tchataika@sun.ac.za   We hope that you will find this newsletter informative. Feel free to distribute it to your colleagues. Very best wishes Editors: Tsitsi Chataika (Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies & Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin); Dan Goodley (Manchester Metropolitan University) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1. News from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), RIHSC Contact: k.runswick-cole@mmu.ac.uk (a) Critical Autism Seminar day makes an impact The first Critical Autism seminar day was held at Sheffield Hallam University on 18th January, 2011. The event was co-hosted by Critical Disability Studies at MMU, the Disability Research Forum and the Autism Centre, at Sheffield Hallam. In stark contrast to ‘traditional’ seminars, often led by professionals, who promote autism awareness or intervention strategies, the Critical Autism day offered as a space for people who identify with the label of autism, parents/carers, activists and academics not only to challenge 'deficit' understandings of autism but also to challenge the category itself. An audience of 40 people including people from across the UK attended the event in Sheffield, and delegates from Canada joined the session via Skype. The keynote was given via Skype by Anne McGuire from the University of Toronto. Anne’s presentation was entitled “We have your son...”: Frames of Terror in Advocacy’s ‘War on Autism’. Anne’s presentation was warmly received by the audiences in the UK and Canada. There were four presentations from members of MMU Critical Disability Studies: (i) Anat Greenstein presented with Steve Graby from the Disabled People's Direct Action Network and Autism Rights Movement on Social dis-order: autistic experiences of/in radical political activism. (ii) Michael Richards presented: ‘I’ve got Asperger’s because I read it on the Internet’: An analysis on how labels are formed and placed on young men and how this can be tackled (iii) Katherine Runswick-Cole presented with Rebecca Mallett from Sheffield Hallam University on Buying (into) Autism: The Commodification of 'Disability' in the Academy. (iv) Dan Goodley presented Autism: a post-structuralist analysis. Katherine Runswick-Cole, from Manchester Metropolitan University said: ‘This was a fascinating and enjoyable day which brought together a range of perspectives on the cultural production of autism. The participation of people who identify with the label of autism, parents/carers, activists, academics and professionals was key to the success of the day. The results of the questionnaires completed by delegates at the end of the session suggest that we can be confident that the day had impact. Indeed, one professional told us that the day had given him new ways of thinking and talking about autism to share with the families he works with.’ For more information about the day or to add your name to a contact list to receive information about future Critical Autism events please contact: k.runswick-cole@mmu.ac.uk (b) Researching the Lives of Disabled Children and Young People: ESRC sponsored seminar series The ESRC seminar series Researching the Lives of Disabled Children held the latest event in the series at the University of Bristol on 21st January, 2011. Katherine Runswick-Cole, from RIHSC, was invited to present alongside Mary Wickenden (Institute of Child Health, University College London), Michael Clarke (University College London) and David Abbott (Norah Fry, University of Bristol. Katherine’s presentation was co-authored with Dan Goodley and based on their research from the on-going project “Does Every Child Matte, post- Blair? The interconnections of disabled childhoods”. In the presentation, Dan and Katherine focused on disabled children’s potentials drawing on Donna Haraway’s Manifesto for Cyborgs in a paper entitled: ‘Celebrating cyborgs: disabled children and photovoice’. Katherine said ‘I was delighted to be invited to talk about the Post Blair project and to be part of a day that brought together a range of perspectives from childhood studies and disability studies.’ For more information contact: k.runswick-cole@mmu.ac.uk (c) Debates in Disability Studies Symposium 1 The first in a series of symposia focusing on key debates in disability studies took place on 26th January, 2011, at Centre for Disability Studies at MMU. Introducing the day, Dan Goodley said that he saw the series as an opportunity for ‘lively and friendly’ debate about the key issues facing disability studies. Over 50 delegates attended the symposia, in the morning Nick Watson (University of Glasgow) argued for a ‘critical realist approach’ in disability studies, followed by Dan Goodley (MMU) arguing for ‘critical disability studies’. In the afternoon, Bill Hughes presented a paper entitled: Civilizing modernity and the ontological invalidation of disabled people. He was followed by Jenny Slater (MMU) who presented on 'Those Pesky Kids: playing around in Disability Studies'. For more information about future symposia contact: d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk or visit: www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk and http://cdsmmu.posterous.com/pages/events (d) Book Launch: Disability Studies: An Inter-disciplinary Introduction, Dan Goodley. We are thrilled to inform you of Dan Goodley’s much anticipated new text: Disability Studies: An Inter-disciplinary Introduction. The book was launched at Sheffield Hallam University on the 18th January, 2011. Dan’s book ‘injects new energy into disability studies. He breaches disciplinary walls embracing, inter alia, sociology, critical psychology, cultural studies, inclusive education and psychoanalysis’ (Bill Hughes, Glasgow Caledonian University). 2. Theses, Dissertations and Research Reports Abstracts (a) The Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University is proud to announce that its three MPhil candidates who were working on the African Policy on Disability and Development (A-PODD) project (www.a-podd.org) as research assistants successfully defended their theses on the 15th February 2011. These studies were part of the three-year A-PODD project, involving four countries: Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. The main aim was to develop research capacity in the host countries. A-PODD, which is a qualitative research project, aims to document and analyze research evidence on the extent to which disabled people engage in national and international development policy initiatives that target poverty reduction, particularly the PRSPs.Well done to Moses Mulumba, Boniface Massah and Dagnechew Wakene from Uganda, Malawi and Ethiopia respectively. We know that you will make a huge impact in your respective countries by ensuring that issues of disability are part and parcel of the national development agenda. Below is the abstract for Moses Mulumba, and we will publish the other two in the next edition. (i) Moses Mulumba - Mainstreaming Disability into the Poverty Reduction Processes in Uganda: The Role of the Human Rights- Based Approach to the National Development Plan (Supervisors: Dr Tsitsi Chataika & Ms Siphokazi Gcaza) Abstract Research evidence suggesting the link between disability and poverty has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. Despite this, there has been very little attention to ensuring representation and inclusion of people with disabilities in poverty reduction processes. However, disability movements and their partners have been increasing pressure to ensure that people with disabilities effectively participate in the development of national development plans targeting poverty reduction. The aim of this qualitative study was to analyze the extent to which the human rights-based approach can be used as an advocacy tool for mainstreaming disability in the national development processes targeting poverty reduction in Uganda. The study was conducted in Kampala and Kiboga districts; and data were gathered between August and October 2009. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Eleven participants were purposively selected to participate in key informant interviews. Using these key informants, the snowballing technique was used to identify twenty people that participated in the two focus group discussions, with each having ten participants. A thematic content analysis was used to analyze data, and this involved coding and cataloguing data into emerging themes and subthemes. The study established that despite several legal frameworks in Uganda, disability mainstreaming is still far from being achieved. Translation of policies into practice was identified as a major challenge, making it difficult for people with disabilities to be meaningfully involved in poverty reduction processes. Negative attitudes and misconception of disability by both policy makers and civil society, were also seen to be contributing to the exclusion of people with disabilities in poverty reduction processes and programmes. Lack of capacity and meaningful political representation of disabled people seem to negatively impact on effective participation, monitoring and evaluation of the poverty-reduction processes in Uganda. The study recommends the need to strengthen capacity and advocacy work among people with disabilities and their promoters to ensure their effective participation and inclusion of disability in the national development agenda. It further recommends the need to adopt the human rights-based approach in any development initiative, ensuring disability mainstreaming in policies and the national development plan, in order to effectively address poverty reduction in Uganda. The researcher also challenges disability and development researchers to engage in more wider-scale studies in order to establish more evidence on the need to adopt the human rights-based approach to national development. For more information, you can contact Moses at mulumbam@gmail.com 3. Conferences and Other Events (i) International Conference - Theology, Disability & Human Dignity Organised by the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, in conjunction with the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University at Stellenbosch University Dates: 18 – 20 May 2011 International and local participants will explore themes with regard to disability and human dignity from their particular point of expertise. Keynote Speakers: 1. Hans Reinders, Professor of Ethics and the Bernard Lievegoed Professor of Ethics and Mental Disability at the Free University of Amsterdam 2. Thomas Reynolds, Associate Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Toronto, Ontario Other Main Speakers: 1. Alexander Phiri, Secretary General of Southern African Federation of the Disabled 2. Rachel Kachaje, Deputy Chairperson for Development and underrepresented Group of Disabled People’s International (DPI) 3. Mzolisi Ka-Toni, from Disabled People South Africa International and local participants will explore themes with regard to disability and human dignity from their particular point of expertise. We invite participants to offer biblical, theological, and ethical perspectives on this theme as well as draw on experts in the fields of psychology, medicine and philosophy to offer a rich exploration of this very important theme. Call for papers: Abstracts between 100 and 200 words. This call is open until the 28th of February 2011. Papers on the following topics or on similar issues are welcome: a) In our training of professionals (medical personnel, pastors), how can we help our students see people with disabilities as fully human? b) How do we help trainees appreciate the strengths of disabled people, while at the same time not being unaware of the complexities of vulnerability and dependency? c) What is the epistemological impact of anthropological approaches that take disabled and vulnerable people seriously? d) How does one go about raising awareness of able bodied privilege? e) How can we challenge stereotypes and work toward seeing the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities? f) How does exposure to disabled and vulnerable people influence our thinking about modernistic values like autonomy, independence and abledness? g) What theological resources are there to aid us in changing people’s mindsets? h) How do theologians working in this area help us to deal with questions of theology and vulnerability; theodicy (God’s relationship with suffering); theological anthropology; dependency and interdependency; ethics (political, economic, ecological, sexual, bio)? For more details and abstract submission, please email Enquiries and Abstracts: Prof Julie Claassens: jclaassens@sun.ac.za or Ms Helette van der Westhuizen: hvdwest@sun.ac.za , Faculty of Theology, Universiteit Stellenbosch University Dorpstraat 171 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch ,7600, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 808 3255; Fax: +27 (0) 21 808 3251 For more conference information, please go to www.afrinead.org (ii) Disability and the Majority World: Towards a Global Disability Studies International Conference This 1st Annual International Conference taking place from the 7th – 8th July, 2011will be hosted by Critical Disability Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, at Gaskell Lecture Theatre (GLT), Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 OJA, UK. It seeks to bring together academics, disability activists, practitioners, organisations, researchers and others from various fields, to discuss a range of key and emerging themes around the complex disability and global South debate. Specifically, the conference will provide a much needed inter-disciplinary, critical, supportive and open space to debate, question and challenge dominant knowledges, discourses and practices, while exploring alternatives. The conference organisers will shortly be accepting abstracts for paper or poster presentations, particularly (not exclusively) around the following broad areas. We particularly welcome contributions from Southern activists and researchers: * Poverty and disability * From North to South: whose discourse? Whose strategies? * The heterogeneity of disability * Health and rehabilitation * Development, globalisation and beyond * Post/neocolonial spaces * Researching disability across cultures * Trans-disciplinarity: beyond boundaries Registration and abstract submission: to be announced shortly (please check on http://disabilityworld.wordpress.com regularly) For all info email: Shaun Grech shaungrech@gmail.com (iii) AfriNEAD 3rd Symposium: 28th – 30th November 2011 at Elephant Hills, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe AfriNEAD symposium are thrilled to announce that the 2011 AfriNEAD Symposium, under the theme: Building Communities of Trust: Evidence-to-Action on Disability Research”. Regularly visit www.afrinead.org for a call for abstracts and further developments. (iv) 18-24 July 2011: XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) This first ever WFD Congress in Africa will be held in Durban, South Africa. The Congress will bring together activists, professionals, interest groups to share their experiences, knowledge and expertise to be used for welfare and improving human rights of Deaf people in Africa and around the world. It will also be a time to review achievements through the implementation of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. More information is available at: http://www.wfd2011.com/information/letter.html (v) International Conference on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; 18 to 20 July 2011, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Conference organisers anticipate 450 participants from the world, including self advocates, family members, policy makers, professionals, academicians and researchers in this field, and friends; to come together to learn about the experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout their lives. The aim of the conference is to identify how stakeholders can achieve improvements in communities by focusing on: * The right of disabled people to make decisions for themselves * The right to be included in the community * The right of families to get the support they need * The right to make a living * The right to meaningful relationships * The right to be born FEES Malaysians : normal rate RM395,  early bird (before 30th April 2011) RM355 Non-Malaysians:  normal rate USD395, early bird (before 30th April 2011) USD355 1 parent + 1 child with special needs: Malaysians RM500, Non-Malaysians USD500 For more information, please email to icidd2011@gmail.com Paper submission – Dr Balan Rathakrishnan Registration – Elsa /Carmella For information, visit http://www.icidd.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For any further contributions and information, please contact email Tsitsi Chataika at tchataika@sun.ac.za Physical Address Dr Tsitsi Chataika - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies; Research Associate – Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin; Honorary Research Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University, RIHSC Tel: +27 219 389 816 Fax: +27 219 146 875 Email: tchataika@sun.ac.za Website: www.a-podd.org NB: A copy of this Newsletter and previous editions are available at: http://www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk/Resources/drn End of Newsletter Page 1 of 10