PhD Studentship Opportunity (University of Hull, UK)

To celebrate the University’s research successes, the University of Hull is offering the following PhD Studentship in the Faculty of Education entitled ‘Giving disabled students a voice in schools’. The primary supervisor: Dr Kiki Messiou (K.Messiou@hull.ac.uk) and more informaion can be found here.

• Closing date: Friday 2^nd March.      
• Studentships will start in September 2012

CFP: Symposium *On researching inclusion through inclusive research* (11th Nov 2011, MMU)

Critical Disability Studies Symposium *On researching inclusion through inclusive research*

FREE! symposium hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University

Date: 11th November 2011 ~ 10am-12pm

Venue: New Lecture Theatre, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University.

This symposium would like to bring together people interested and involved in research and practice concerning disability, education, co-research, self-advocacy and inclusion.

People who are interested can submit papers on following topics:

*      Exploring co-researching and what is inclusive research?
*      Exploring accessible literature, conferencing, and how academia shares its findings?
*      Exploring how we can bridge practice and research?
*      Exploring accessibility of higher education for people with learning difficulties?
*      Exploring how self-advocacy can tie in with research and research with self-advocacy?

Keynote will be facilitated by Toon Maillard (Guest scholar and researcher at the Critical Disability Studies Unit at MMU from Ghent University, Belgium)

Deadline for paper abstracts: 17th October 2011.

Submit abstracts via email to Toon Maillard: toon.maillard@ugent.be or Dan Goodley: d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk

Seminar Announced on ‘Investigating Socio-Technical Experiences of Disability in Social Media’ (8th March 2011)

The following event has been added to the Other Events section.

Event: Centre for Culture & Disability Studies (CCDS) Research Forum *FREE!*

Date: 8th March 2011 ~ 4pm – 6pm

Venue: WAREE036 (Powys Lecture Theatre), Liverpool Hope University, UK. 

• ‘Disability 2.0: Investigating Socio-Technical Experiences of Disability in Social Media’ ~ Sarah Lewthwaite (Learning Sciences Research Institute, School of Education, University of Nottingham, UK)

Abstract: For many young people, social networks are an essential part of the student experience. Sarah Lewthwaite explores disabled students’ experiences of disability in social networks to understand how dis/ability difference is ascribed and negotiated within such networks, and the impact it has on university life. This research is firmly located within the social sciences, drawing on the thinking of Foucault to develop understandings of disability and power relations online. However, its research object, the socio-technical mediation of disability, is interdisciplinary, drawing on research territories that are unfamiliar to many disability studies researchers. Sarah gives a backstage look at negotiating a path through interdisciplinary disability studies research, touching on information sciences and human computer interaction, and the particular problems and opportunities that this kind of activity presents. She introduces the notion of ‘bricolage’ as a user-friendly multi-perspective methodology and research approach that has enabled her to develop new, technology-enhanced and accessible research methods, and develop a research lens drawing on complementary methods from Activity Theory, Phenomenography, Discourse Analysis and Case Study. It will be an interactive session aimed at researchers and students, but prior knowledge of the methods and technologies presented is not necessary. Following on from an orientation in social media research for disability studies, Sarah will also talk about the findings of her research, which consider the ways in which social technologies reposition disabled people within taxonomies of identity, enabling some and dis-abling others.

For further information from the organisers, please contact: Dr. Ria Cheyne: cheyner@hope.ac.uk

Disability Research Gets a New Doctor

We are thrilled to announce that on 22nd November 2010, long-standing and dedicated DRF member Sarah Lewthwaite successfully navigated her viva.  Examined by Prof. Jane Seale (Plymouth) and Dr. Kay Hawe (Nottingham), a summary of the thesis is below and more information about Sarah’s work can be found on our People and Publications pages.  Congratulations Dr Sarah!!!

PhD Title: Disability 2.0: Student dis/Connections.  A study of student experiences of disability and social networks on campus in Higher Education.

PhD Summary: Sarah’s thesis explores the networked experiences of disabled students to examine how dis/ability difference is ascribed and negotiated within the social network Facebook.  The thesis presents 18 case studies that generated 34 internet-enabled phenomenographic interviews.  The research draws on the thinking of Foucault and the notion of bricolage as an approach to research that lies at the juncture between disability studies, educational research and social media.  The research finds that networks are shown to have the potential to reposition disabled students within taxonomies of identity.  Two interrelated conclusions are drawn.  First, social networks are essential to student life, yet not all students can access them on an equal basis, introducing a digital divide with material social outcomes.  Second, networks represent a redefinition of dis/ability where some students with impairments are non-disabled, or may adopt non-disabled interactions, where others do not.  Diversity is thus suppressed and students disabled by the network are doubly disadvantaged as disability is rendered invisible and the social and digital divide of the network is reinforced.

(Re)thinking inclusivity in higher education event

Call for presentations and bookings to participate in forum to share ‘inclusive’ practice within higher education, 4th April 2011 at Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield Hallam University, in partnership with both Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Sheffield, is delighted to be hosting this unique and free one-day event. This Show ‘n’ Share Fair will provide an opportunity for staff to network, share “inclusive” practice and generate new ideas to enhance innovation in teaching practice and support for all students, embracing the diversity each student brings into the realm of higher education.

You are invited to submit a proposal to present and share an aspect of your “inclusive” practice with interested colleagues. This is an opportunity for our colleagues to learn first-hand and ask questions about the uniqueness of your teaching and support practice which engages students from diverse backgrounds. For more information about submitting a proposal please click here.

Of course, one does not have to show ‘n’ share something to attend this event. If interested in only attending and witness the various inclusive and innovative teaching and practices that are occurring in our very own institutions, please register click here.

Click here for more specific information on event

Course seeks to empower disabled leaders (UK)

In 2009, 425,063 students enrolled in higher and further education colleges in the UK. 5.8% of these students were disabled.  Many disabled students realise their full potential, enjoy their education experience and pursue careers and leadership roles in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. For some, the barriers are too great.

Part of this is the current lack of representation on boards and within senior management teams where the voice of disabled people is silent – because they are simply not represented or given the chance to lead.

Common Purpose’s campaign and leadership development course for young disabled leaders aims to change this.

The course: Starting in 2010, Common Purpose will help 240 higher and further education students in the UK develop the skills and knowledge to pursue leadership roles throughout their studies and beyond. Common Purpose will run a three-day leadership development course in the winter and summer of each year. Forty disabled university students will participate in each three-day course.

Common Purpose will also develop an online resource of information and inspiration for disabled students throughout the United Kingdom and around the world.

Common Purpose will also run an annual one-day workshop for students graduating from higher and further education to help them identify and actively pursue potential leadership roles.

For more information please visit the Common Purpose website.

Recommended Reads for September

So far, September has been a good month for publications from DRF members. Rebecca Mallett‘s long-awaited piece on disability in British comedy (entitled ‘Claiming Comedic Immunity: Or, What Do You Get When You Cross Contemporary British Comedy with Disability?’) is now out in Review of Disability Studies and Anne McGuire‘s ‘Disability, non-disability and the politics of mourning: Rethinking the ‘we’‘ has just been published by Disability Studies Quarterly.  That particular issue of DSQ is jam-packed with Anne’s University of Toronto colleagues, including another DRF member. Tanya Titchkosky‘s ‘The Not-Yet-Time of Disability in the Bureaucratization of University Life’ will be well worth a read for anyone who has struggled with the joys(!) of ‘disability’ within a university context.

• Review of Disability Studies: http://www.rds.hawaii.edu/downloads/
• Disability Studies Quarterly: http://www.dsq-sds.org/index