++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Disability Research Network e-Newsletter: March, 2009 - 19th Edition ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   Editor’s Comments: Welcome to the 19th edition of the Disability Research Network e-newsletter (in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University, Breakthrough UK Ltd, and Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University [South Africa]). Compliments of the New Year and I do hope that you are continuing to further the disability agenda in your respective spaces. You might have been wondering why you were not receiving this newsletter. It was because of my relocation to Stellenbosh University, South Africa. The process was time consuming to the extent that I had to temporarily postpone most of the things, including this newsletter. Now, I have resettled well and enjoying the African sunshine in Cape Town, and now, the newsletter is up and running. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have sent me some contributions, hence we have this edition. Please, remember to submit input for the next edition by latest 5th April 2009 so that by the time you come back from Easter break, the next edition will be in your mail boxes. To all our international readers, please keep on informing us of what is happening in your spaces as this is a very ideal platform for networking. I am looking forward to receiving news from all the continents as has always been the case. When submitting, please remember to use simple text version for easy accessibility, and avoid sending PDF files. This newsletter is meant to be informal and uses simple and accessible text. Once again, thank you for your continued support.  Best Wishes Tsitsi Chataika +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Coordinator’s Comments:   Please find below the 19th e-newsletter from this established but expandable network. Our aims are to provide informal, off the press and informative monthly details of 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/). This network relies, obviously, on regular monthly input. When contributing, please include the following:   * 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 * Monthly commitment to provide us with BRIEF information (inc. related web links) about disability research activities you and your colleagues are involved through emails each month me (you will be reminded by email). This could be no more than a few lines – and no attachments – as we want to keep it workable, informal and relatively easy to read. * 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, etc … * 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’; ‘Activities of the disability studies team at University of Northumbria’ * To make the email simple text without loads of formatting for ease    of putting together * To posit other ideas for developing the e-newsletter - perhaps a section on 'possible future research   Very best wishes   Dan Goodley d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Contents: 1.  News from Manchester Metropolitan University, Research & Social Change 2. News from Leeds University, Department of Sociology & Social Policy 3. News from Sheffield Hallam University 4. News from Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies 5. News from Prof Alan Roulstone +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1. News from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Research Institute for Health & Social Change Contact: Prof Dan Goodley: d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk (a) Forthcoming conference 'Disability and Economy: Creating a Society for All'; Hosted by READ, the University of Tokyo (Todai), in association with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) http://www.read-tu.jp/english/Forum2009/program.html (b) Current ESRC Funded Project "Does every child matter, post Blair? The interconnections of disabled childhoods" http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/postblairproject/ (c) Current British Council/PMI2 Funded Project http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/malaysiaukdisability/ 2. News from University of Leeds, Centre for Disability Studies Contact: Prof Mark Priestley: M.A.Priestley@leeds.ac.uk (a) New Appointment - Welcome to Dr Sarah Woodin, who joins the Centre as a Research Fellow supporting two projects - the Office for Disability Issues Rapid Evidence Assessment and the Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED). (b) Presentations and Launches (i) Sarah Francis (School of Classics) hosted a seminar event on ‘Redefining Disability in the Ancient World’ in collaboration with the University of Kent, focusing on understandings of disability in the Greco-Roman world.  (ii) Representatives of more than 30 disabled people’s organisations from 13 countries, met with academics and policy makers in Brussels at the launch of the EuRADE project consultation survey, hosted by the European Parliament and the European Disability Forum. (c) Publications - Two new books were published in December: Anna Lawson 's Disability and Equality Law in Britain: The role of Reasonable Adjustment, and Sonali Shah 's, Young Disabled People: Aspirations, Choices and Constraints (d) PhD Viva - Congratulations to Julie Ricketts who successfully defended her PhD thesis on 'The making of a Jamaican disability policy' (e) Forthcoming Presentations (i) Wednesday March 11th, 2.00-3.30pm - Professor Nora Groce (University College London) to present on: "Rethinking disability and development: what dialogue should we be having with global health and development" organizations?, venue to be confirmed. (ii) Wednesday May 6th, 2.00-3.30pm - Allan Sutherland (Edward Lear Foundation) will be presenting on: "The other tradition: from personal politics to disability arts", Seminar Room, Beech Grove House (opposite the Students Union)   3. News from Sheffield Hallam University Contact: Dr Nick Hodge: n.s.hodge@shu.ac.uk (a) Project updates (i) Sutherland House School Voice Output Communication Aid Project - now at the data collection and analysis stage. The final report will be produced this summer. Working papers are available at www.sutherlandhouse.org.uk/docs/SHS-Communication-Aids-intervention-working-paper.pdf (ii) Welcome to Tom Andrews who is starting his PhD, and he will be a part-time student and the focus of his enquiry will be an exploration around developing sexual identity within the context of autism.  Tom can be contacted via Nick Hodge at n.s.hodge@shu.ac.uk (iii) Sue Chantler is now gathering data for her EdD study with a focus on teacher attitudes towards inclusion. Sue is using some interesting exercises within her work to facilitate reflective thinking, and she is contactable at: s.chantler@shu.ac.uk (iv) Denyse Hodgson is applying for NHS ethical approval for her EdD study entitled: Involving Cancer Patients in Curriculum Delivery: a participatory research approach. Denyse's email is D.Hodgson@shu.ac.uk (v) Nicki Martin has recently undertaken some research at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Festival which considers portrayals of disabled people (by disabled performers and by others) mainly in comedy, but with reference to other Edinburgh shows, and some performances from beyond the fringe. Disablism, othering and the 'freak show' genre are amongst the themes which emerge from Nicki's exploration which includes consideration of whether disabled comedians can be disablist and whether Disability Equality legislation is impacting on what happens in performance. Nicki observes that from the perspective of a disability aware audience member, unreconstructed disablism in comedy appeared to be fairly widespread within the fringe, mainly manifesting itself via the idle use of othering language such as the word 'spas'. Nicki’s paper, which is currently being peer reviewed, represents a snap shot from a huge and varied festival and a starting point which has inspired future deeper research. Nicki hopes to be presenting the findings in June at the Society for Disability Studies Annual Convention.  Nicki can be contacted at n.martin@shu.ac.uk (vi) The Centre for Education and Inclusion Research is carrying out a short review for BECTA on the use of technology by disabled children and young people outside of school settings. Information on this is available from R.Garrick@shu.ac.uk (b) Presentations (i) Dr. Luke Beardon gave a presentation at the Sheffield Hallam education Research seminar series in February, 2009. The presentation focused on Luke's doctoral study and was entitled: Asperger Syndrome and Perceived Offending Conduct: A Qualitative Study. (ii) On the 8th April, Rebecca Mallett and Dr Katherine Runswick-Cole (MMU) will be giving a presentation at the same series entitled: The Iconic Case of 'Autism': Exploring Impairment-Celebrity in Disability Research. (c) Publications (i) The National Association of Disability Practitioners in collaboration with The Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam has just published a special edition of The Journal of Inclusive Practice in further and higher education. The theme for this edition was, 'Working effectively with students who have Asperger Syndrome'. Further information about the journal is available from Nicki Martin at N.Martin@shu.ac.uk (ii) Nick Hodge and Katherine Runswick-Cole (MMU) have an article coming out in the spring edition of the Cerebra Bulletin. This is entitled 'Parent-professional partnerships in education: what's the problem?' The bulletin will be available at www.cerebra.org.uk 4. News from Stellenbosch University, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, South Africa (a) African Policy on Disability and Development (A-PODD) Project A-PODD is a three year project funded by a €500,000 research grant from the Health Research Board/Irish Aid, which brings together a wide range of research partners. This research investigates the need for disability to be included on the agenda of national and international development initiatives. It aims to document and analyse the factors that contribute to realising the rights of disabled people, promote their health and well-being and release their economic potential, with government strategies aimed at poverty alleviation. It focuses on how research evidence can be utilised to inform the policy environment (such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Sector Wide Approaches), and development institutions (such as the IMF, World Bank and WHO). The research also focuses on less formal local, community and grass-roots decision-making and inclusion efforts. A-PODD will undertake four country-case studies: (i) Sierra Leone, a country emerging from conflict that resulted in many people being disabled; (ii) Malawi and Uganda, the only two African countries that have Ministries for people with disabilities; (iii) Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, with significant geographical barriers and a highly dispersed population, presenting significant challenges to the inclusion of people with disability. In addition to promoting innovative redistributive policies, the project seeks to involve disabled people as part of the economic solution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly poverty reduction. A comparative analysis will inform the disability policy within the region. Factors which restrict or facilitate these policies will be identified along implementation pathways, as will local means and mechanisms of addressing them. Country reports will be discussed at a concluding workshop to which governments, civil society, donors, researchers and others will be invited. A code of best practice will be drawn up for Moving Evidence to Action on African Disability Policy. (a) A-PODD Appointments Dr Tsitsi Chataika and Dr Margaret Wazakili have recently appointed as Post Doctoral Research Fellows on A-PODD project. Two postdoctoral research fellows are also registered as Research Fellows at the University of Dublin’s Trinity College, Centre for Global Health in Ireland. Mr Moses Mulumba and Mr Boniface Massah have also been appointed as research assistants and they are based in Uganda and Malawi respectively. The two will join A-PODD on the 1st of April, 2009. Two Research assistants for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia will be appointed in March, but will only take up their posts in January, 2010. In 2009, data collection will take place in Uganda and Malawi, and in 2010, the focus will shift to Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. As part of capacity building, the four research assistants will be considered for fully-funded registration for a Masters in Research at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. (c) Announcement of the African Network on Evidence - to - Action on Disability (AfriNEAD) Symposium, 30 November – 2 Dec 2009, Cape Town, South Africa Contact: Ms Gubela Mji, Director of Centre for Rehabilitation Studies (rehab@sun.ac.za) The 2nd AfriNEAD symposium is scheduled for 30 November 2009 – 2 December 2009 in Cape Town South Africa. This is a follow up from the 1st Stellenbosch Symposium on evidence - to -action on disability symposium that was in 2007 (SSEAD 07). The AfriNEAD network specifically focuses on turning research evidence into action that will improve the quality of life for persons with disability in Africa. While rooted in research, it functions as a network of diverse stakeholders from all over the continent and internationally. The 2nd AfriNEAD symposium is based on the UN Convention of Persons with Disability to reflect the need to bring research evidence into ACTION to the UN Convention now that it has been ratified by some member countries. The theme of the symposium is AFRINEAD 2009: The ABC of research evidence-to-action: Operationalising UNCRDP principles for a rights-based approach. Thursday the 3rd of December is the International Day for Persons with Disability. Delegates can join Cape Town based disability events/celebrations. The AfriNEAD will host an evening banquet on this day and delegates are invited to come and taste a variety of African cuisine in their best traditional dresses. This promises to be a memorable event. A range of post symposium workshops will be offered on Friday the 4th of December 2009. For further details regarding the 2nd AfriNEAD symposium please visit www.AfriNEAD.co.za by the 1st of April 2009. 5. News from Professor Alan Roulstone Email: aroulstone@dmu.ac.uk Professor Alan Roulstone has been involved in the following: (a) Establishment of an inter-disciplinary Disability Research Forum for the East Midlands based at De Montfort University Leicester. The forum brings together staff and students from De Montfort, Leicester, Nottingham and Loughborough universities to talk about their current work, to explore “research collaboratives” and build disability research in the region. (b) He has been invited to contribute to the UK Parliament's Speakers Conference on Equality which includes a strand of work on disability. (c) He has just completed work with Pam Thomas for Breakthrough UK (http://www.breakthrough-uk.com) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission on hate crime in the North West England and is poised to begin a project on disabled leaders. (d) He has been working with the University of Northumbria at Newcastle (UNN) as a steering group member on a project focused on applying the Social Model and Dementia. Professor Alan Roulstone is happy to pass queries on to colleagues at UNN. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NB: A copy of this Newsletter is available at: http://www.breakthrough-uk.com/DRN.shtml   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ END OF NEWSLETTER For any further contributions and information contact:  Dr Tsitsi Chataika - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Campus Faculty of Health Science, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies African Policy On Disability and Development (A-PODD) Project P.O Box 93108 Tygerberg, 7505 South Africa Tel: +27 219 389 816 Fax: +27 219 146 875 Email: tchataika@sun.ac.za or t.chataika@yahoo.co.uk ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++