++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Disability Research Network e-Newsletter: September 2008 - 16th Edition ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   Editor’s Comments: Welcome to the 16th edition of the Disability Research Network e-newsletter (in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University and Breakthrough UK Ltd).  I would, first of all apologise for not circulating the August edition. This was because I had only received one contribution, which made it difficult for me to come up with a newsletter. I therefore, urge you to email me your contributions so that we do not miss out on any edition in future. Remember, this newsletter heavily relies on you. It might be important for you to know that there has been no funding to run this newsletter since May, 2008. However, based on positive comments that I have received from some you, I have volunteered to run this newsletter without remuneration. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who responded to my last correspondence by emailing me your contributions, hence we have this edition. Please; remember to submit contributions for the next edition by latest 28th September 2008. To all our international readers, please keep on informing us of your news as this is a very good platform for networking as well. 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. Once again, thank you for your support. Finally, to those who attended the Lancaster Disability Studies Association conference (UK), I would like thank you, particularly the presenters who managed to share their papers with the rest of the delegates. I hope you managed to learn new things, and also creating some useful long lasting networks.   Best Wishes Tsitsi Chataika +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Coordinator’s Comments:  Please find below the 16th 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, Depart. of Sociology & Social Policy 3. News from the Government Office for Disability Issues 4. News from Northumbria University 5. News from University of Birmingham, Autism Centre for Education & Research ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1. News from Manchester Metropolitan University Research Institute for Health & Social Change The British Council funded project entitled: “Towards a culturally sensitive disability study: interconnections of disability in and across Malaysia and the UK” is underway. It is a collaborative research between Malaysian and British based researchers. The UK research team, led by Prof Dan Goodley and Dr Rebecca Lawthom has been in Malaysia; Sarawak State for two weeks conducting research. Researchers, Anne Kellock and Shaun Grech, both PhD students from Manchester Metropolitan University carried out fieldwork for two weeks in rural Bau, an area in Sarawak State. They spent time visiting special schools and talking to disabled people in the area. Dr Tsitsi Chataika, whose duration in Malaysia is two months, is still in Malaysia up to mid October doing fieldwork and seminar presentations. Dr Tsitsi Chataika is visiting community based rehabilitation centres (NGO and state funded), welfare departments, and also interviewing parents of disabled children, and disabled people themselves, the aim being to identify challenges faced by disabled people in Malaysia. The following were seminars presented by Prof Dan Goodley, Dr Rebecca Lawthorn, and Dr Tsitsi Chataika at Universiti Sarawak Malaysia: (a) Prof Dan Goodley (19th Sept 20080 (i) Seminar 1 - Development, Postcoloniality and Disability (ii) Seminar 2 – Emancipatory disability research (b) Dr Rebecca Lawthom (19th Sept 2008) - Voice relational methods and feminist research (c) Dr Tsitsi Chataika (i) Seminar 1 (9 September 2008)- Engaging with the Social Ecosystem Framework in Disability Research – the presentation was based on Dr Tsitsi Chataika’s PhD’s thesis methodological resources, and their relevance and implications to other disciplines. (ii) Seminar 2 (11th September 2008) - Inclusion of Disabled Students in Higher Education in Zimbabwe: From Idealism to Reality – A Social Ecosystem Perspective. The presentation was a follow up to the first seminar presentation. She mainly discussed her PhD thesis outline, aims and research findings, and implications to good practice. For more information about this project, visit www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/malaysiaukdisability or Contact Principal Investigators: Prof Dan Goodley (d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk) or Dr Rebecca Lawthorn (r.lawthom@mmu.ac.uk) 2. News from University of Leeds, Department of Sociology & Social Policy   (a) We are pleased to announce the launch of www.disability-europe.net - the new website of the European Commission's 'Academic Network of European Disability experts' (ANED).   (b) This year sees changes in the management of the Centre and the retirement of Dr Geof Mercer, a founding member who contributed extensively to CDS teaching, research and publications. We are grateful to Geof for his long-standing contribution to disability studies.   (c) Dr Laura Hemingway is appointed to a temporary lectureship (School of Sociology and Social Policy), and the Directorship of CDS passes from Prof Colin Barnes to Prof Mark Priestley in September.   (d) Colin Barnes (Sociology and Social Policy) gave the opening plenary paper, on 'Disability Studies, the Academy and Inclusion', to the first major social science conference on disability in France.   (e) Leeds was the venue for a two day British Academy seminar on Iberoamerican perspectives on disability, including discussion of research and teaching in Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezeula, Colombia, Jamaica, Spain, Portugal, UK, Belgium and USA. Contact: Professor Mark Priestley Email: M.A.Priestley@leeds.ac.uk 3. News from The Government Office for Disability Issues (a) Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People The government Office for Disability Issues (ODI) has recently released the findings from a major study entitled 'Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People'. It is the first comprehensive study of disability issues in six years, looking at key policy areas including employment, education, transport, health and discrimination across Great Britain in 2007. The research was both qualitative and quantitative in design and involved disabled people throughout the research process. The report shows that whilst progress is being made, disabled people in Britain are still more likely than non-disabled people to experience disadvantage in a variety of areas. The full report and summary version can be accessed from the ODI website. Various accessible formats are also available. See http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/research/eedp.asp Contact: Nick Campbell (Senior Researcher) Office for Disability Issues Email: NICHOLAS.CAMPBELL@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK   4. News from Northumbria University (a) Research Team secures funding from Department of Health Long-Term Neurological Conditions Research Initiative A team from Northumbria University and Walkergate Park Centre for Neuro Rehabilitation & Neuro Psychiatry has been successful in securing £200,000 to do research under the Department of Health Long Term Neurological Conditions Research Initiative.  The team, led by Dr Tina Cook from Northumbria University and Helen Atkin from Walkergate Park, includes service users, carers and voluntary sector partners.  Together they have designed an innovative research approach to explore inclusive practice in Neuro-Rehabilitation and Neuro-Psychiatry.  The study, which will last for 30 months, will investigate current understandings of integrated and inclusive practice; map what inclusion looks/ feels like for people and articulate the impact of inclusive practice on peoples lives with special regard to the effectiveness of treatment. The outcomes from this research will influence local practice, national policy and develop service user and carer research capacity. Contact: Dr Tina Cook, Reader/Academic Manager: Research Ethics. School of HCES Email: tina.cook@unn.ac.uk Website: www.communitycampus.org.uk   5.  News from University of Birmingham, Autism Centre for Education & Research The team at the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER), University of Birmingham, are completing work on a multimedia resource for teachers and support staff working in mainstream schools with children who have autism. This is part of the Inclusion Development Programme sponsored by the DCSF and National Standards. The resource will be sent to all Early Years workers and all schools in England, and available to all online as well at http://www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/primary/features/inclusion/sen/. Several young people and adults with autism have contributed to this project. You can find more information about ACER at http://www.webautism.bham.ac.uk/ Contact: Dr Mitzi Waltz Email: m.waltz@bham.ac.uk ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 Email: t.chataika@yahoo.co.uk Tel/Fax: +44113 293 8749 or +4479 03859902 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++