Disabled people with Learning Disabilities and Civil Society
Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:12:00 GMT
Postgraduate Research Forum seminar forms precursor to British Sociological Association conference with wide-ranging themes
AN exploration of how far people with learning disabilities participate in civil society, the impact of the cuts and policies of the coalition government, and the realities of the 'Big Society' for people with learning disabilities were the subjects of a special seminar organised by a new group of research students at the University of Huddersfield. Now they move on to an ambitious conference, scheduled for June, which will examine wide ranging aspects of citizenship in the 21st century.
The Postgraduate Research Forum, based in the University’s School of Human and Health Sciences, was formed in 2013 and has held a sequence of events. These included film seminars – a discussion of the issues raised by the screening of a thought-provoking movie – social events and last year a roundtable discussion with local Kirklees councillors.
Then came a research seminar entitled Big Society? Disabled people with Learning Disabilities and Civil Society, at which Dr Katherine Runswick-Cole discussed her ESRC funded research, which includes an examination of the impacts of cuts in public funding and new Government policies on civil society organisations that are aligned to people with learning disabilities.
The event was co-organised by PhD student Victoria Byrne, who worked in the field of learning disability herself before embarking on doctoral research at the University of Huddersfield.
She explained that her research includes interviews with people who have learning disabilities in which she asks about their understandings and perceptions of inclusion and relates these to actual policy on working and living independently. Dr Runswick-Cole’s work was therefore of special relevance to Victoria’s area of interest.
Now she and fellow Postgraduate Research Forum members Gavin Hart, Danielle Cutler, Libby McEnhill and Camilo Tamayo Gómez have won funding to organise a British Sociological Association conference, which takes place at the University on Wednesday 18 June.
Its wide ranging themes will include race and ethnicity; gender and sexuality; communication, rights and social movements; and disability rights. Keynote speakers will include the University of Huddersfield’s Dr Chris Gifford, plus Dr Darren Langdridge of the Open University and Dr Nick Stevenson of the University of Nottingham.
There will also be a sequence of panels for papers presented by postgraduates and early career researchers, with awards for the best offerings.
A call for papers has been issued, with a 23 April deadline for submissions.
- People are welcome to the Postgraduate Research Forum via Facebook or can follow on Twitter. To attend book here.
