Dear all
I hope this email finds you well. Please find below the fourth edition of the Disability Studies Association e-newsletter (in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University and Breakthrough UK Ltd).
Very Best Wishes
Tsitsi Chataika
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Disability Research Network e-Newsletter: July 2007
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Editor’s Comments:
Welcome to the fourth edition of the Disability Research Network e-newsletter. The newsletter is proving be a very useful resource based on your positive comments I am receiving from globally. Thanks very much for all the positive comments, keep them rolling, they are much appreciated. The newsletter has become a platform where information is being shared without boundaries. I am very excited since the contributions are now coming from as far as Canada and Malta. Once again, let me take this opportunity to thank all those who emailed me exciting and informative contributions that have allowed me to put together this edition. Keep on emailing me your contributions so that we are aware of what is happening in disability studies circles. Please remember to submit contributions for the next edition by latest 28th July 2007 for me to put together the newsletter and email it to you on time. Once again, thank you for the wonderful support and I wish you the best in disability
research.
Best Wishes
Tsitsi Chataika
Coordinator’s Comments:
Please find below the fourth e-newsletter from this newly 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.
The idea for this newsletter emerged from discussions between the Research Institute for Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University (http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/) and Breakthrough UK Ltd - a social enterprise that draws upon social model ideas to promote employment advocacy, advice, support and training to disabled people (http://www.breakthrough-uk.com/). They encouraged us to share regular information from disability research, which might inform their work. This sharing and networking links into the aims of the Disability Studies Association and, we hope, will have broader appeal (http://www.disabilitystudies.net/). This network relies, obviously, on regular monthly input. What we would like from you, if you are interested …
· 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 / funding priorities' which readers might be able to link into for funding bids.
We hope you are interested.
Very best wishes,
Dan Goodley
[log in to unmask]
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1. News From Manchester Metropolitan University, Research Institute of Health and Social Change
Contact - Dan Goodley ([log in to unmask])
(a) The Research Institute of Health and Social Change (RIHSC) held its
annual conference at MMU between 4-5th July 2007 entitled "Health & Social Change: Challenges & Controversy". Contributors included Manual Aramayo who spoke about his experience of developing, with communities, 'the Venezualan social model of
disability'. For details of this and other papers, visit http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/.
(b) On the 6th July the Critical Disability Studies strand of Social Change and Well Being research group of RIHSC hosted the first 'Disability, Discourse and Community Psychology' seminar. Plans are ahead for a seminar next year. Further details of papers please contact Dan Goodley ([log in to unmask])
(c)The Division of Psychology and Social Change, Manchester
Metropolitan University, offers a Masters in Psychology and Disability - which engages critically with psychological theory and practice from the perspective of critical disability studies. Connections are also made with other minority discipline literatures including community psychology, critical psychology, feminisms and queer theory. For details contact the admissions Tutor Micheal Rupply on ([log in to unmask])
2. News from Birmingham University, UK
Contact: Linda Hudson ([log in to unmask])
The autism studies team has two events on 4 October: the launch of our new Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER), and the eighth annual Ron Gulliford Lecture, to be delivered by Prof. Rita Jordan.
ACER will be launched with a conference from 1:00-5:00pm in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham . The event will include speakers from ACER, including Prof. Rita Jordan, Karen Guldberg , Dr. Glenys Jones, Andrea MacLeod, Lynn Plimley and Dr. Mitzi Waltz , as well as displays and posters on research and practice in the field of autism. Details are still being finalised, but those interested in attending can contact Linda Hudson, [log in to unmask], 0121 414 5620. ACER plans include participatory, emancipatory and user-led research on topics in ASDs.
Prof. Jordan ’s lecture is titled “Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Challenge and Model for Inclusion in Education,” and is scheduled for 6:00pm in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham . There is a cost of £5, which includes a light buffet. Booking forms are available from: Jennifer R. Whittaker, [log in to unmask], 0121 414 6733. About the lecture, Prof. Jordan writes:
“In this paper I trace the battle for recognition of the distinct learning style for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and how a growing acceptance has stumbled against the challenge of inclusion as an ideology rather than an education or cultural process. It is argued, from research evidence, professional and parental experience, the writing of those with an ASD, and a European survey, that the reaction to ‘forced integration’ without understanding or adaptation of the system, has been a regression to forms of segregation that owe more to the isolation of the past rather than the ‘cutting edge specialism’ that many promote. Yet there are good principles for practice developed in the UK and pockets of identified good practice. I argue that, rather than seeing ASD as a challenge to be overcome in education, successful inclusion of those with ASD is a way forward for the best education for all. Imagine a government that trusted teachers as professionals and
allowed them to act as such, rather than as technicians. Imagine an educational system that recognised that to treat people equally we have to treat them differently not the same. Imagine teachers who displayed informed empathy just as much as they tried to teach children about ‘emotional literacy’. Imagine that we really valued difference and cared about enabling people to be the best they could become and did not place such a high value on conformity. Imagine creating situations where learning was fun or, if there were hard parts, the purpose was clear. Imagine excluding fear from school and not children. Understanding and getting it right for children with ASD can be a way of getting it right for everyone.”
3. News from The University of Malta (Dr Andrew Azzopard)
Department of Youth & Community Studies, Faculty of Education,
Contact Information: Emails: [log in to unmask] and
Telephone: (+00356) 2340-2919 / (+00356) 2340-2969
(a) The Department of Department of Psychology, Programme of Inclusive Education in the Faculty of Education is offering a Transdisciplinary Course in Masters in Inclusive Education and Communities commencing in September 2007 (3 years part-time/evening)
(b) Who is eligible?
Course participants are eligible if they are qualified in the following
areas; Heads of School, Human Resource Managers, Communication therapists, Counselors, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Occupational therapists,
Physiotherapists, Psychology graduates, Psychologists, Social Workers & Social Administrators, Teachers, Youth and Community Workers and other
related professions. Parent activists and disabled activists are being encouraged to apply for this course if they have the necessary entry requirements.
(c) Aims of the course:
(i) a greater understanding of the diverse learning needs of children in our schools; (ii) designing strategic alliances with professionals, policy makers, parent and disabled activists in attempting to create the necessary
educational and community changes; (iii) a conscious & strategic attempt to create an increasingly welcoming environment for all.
(d)Lecturers
The most qualified and experienced Lecturers in the field of inclusive
education and communities will be contributing to this course, both local
and foreign.
Foreign contributors include; Prof Lucia de Anna (University of Rome, Italy), Prof Michael Giangreco (University of Vermont, USA), Professor Dan Goodley (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK), Prof Laura Nota (University of Padova, Italy), Prof Mara Shapon Shavin (University of Syracuse, USA), Mr Gunvor Sonneysyn (Institute for Applied Pedagogy, Norway).
Contact information
telephone: (+00356) 2340-2919 / (+00356) 2340-2969
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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4. News from Canada
Ontario Instititute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) (Canada)
Contact: Tanya Titchkosky
Email: [log in to unmask]
Voice Mail: 416-978-0451
Fax: 416-926-4751
(a) New Book by Tanya Titchkosky
Titchkosky, T. (2007) Reading and Writing Disability Differently: The Textured Life of
Embodiment University of Toronto Press.
About the Book:
The book mixes rigorous social theory with concrete analysis, Reading and Writing Disability Differently unpacks the marginality of disabled people by addressing how the meaning of our bodily existence is configured in everyday literate society...
Link to book at University of Toronto Press
http://www.utppublishing.com/pubstore/merchant.ihtml?pid=8903&step=4
5. Request from Mrs Laura Williams (PhD Candidate), Cardiff University, UK
Cardiff Business School
PhD Supervisor: Dr D Foster
Email: [log in to unmask]
I am kindly requesting for anybody who is interested in having a short interview with me about their experiences as a disabled student at university post 2000. I am a disabled Ph.D student and I am looking to interview those with visible and invisible disabilities. I would be
grateful if you could also ask people to pass this message onto anyone they know who might be interested.
6. Request from York University, UK
(a) Social Policy Research Unit
Contacts: Kate Baxter ([log in to unmask]) or Parvaneh Rabiee ([log in to unmask])
The Social Policy Research Unit at York University is kindly requesting for
study participants.
Have you or someone you know been discharged from hospital in the last
six months after a sudden and significant deterioration in health (perhaps
after a stroke or an accident)? Are you over 18 and live in England?
(i) If this is you or someone you know, please get in touch, we would love
to hear about:
- The choices you have made.
- How you made them.
- What helped and what didn’t.
The ‘Choice and Change’ study is being carried out by a team of researchers at the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York for the Department of Health. We are looking at how adults who have had a sudden and significant deterioration in health make choices about their support and services as their needs change over time.
-(ii) What would it involve?
- We would like to visit anyone who takes part in this research about four times over the next three years to talk about choices or decisions you have made recently relating to changes in your support or services.
(iii) How do you find out more?
If you would like to know more about this research, please contact
either Kate Baxter or Parvaneh Rabiee on telephone number 01904 321950, email us at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask], or write to us at SPRU, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD. We are happy to answer any questions. Contacting us does not commit you to helping us with the study.
(b) Department of Computer Science
Contact: Helen Petrie, Professor of Human Computer Interaction, York University, UK
I’m a lecturer and researcher at the University of York, and my speciality is technology for people with disabilities. I’m currently involved in a European project which is investigating how to use the potential of virtual learning environments (VLEs) to better support students with disabilities and mature students (although we are well aware that these systems have big accessibility problems at the moment).
We have a survey we would be very grateful if students, both with and without disabilities, could complete it about their experiences in education. We are interested in responses from students at every stage of study, from Access courses through to PhDs. It is quite a long survey, it will take up to 40 minutes to complete (the clever software does at least allow you to do some and come back later if you wish). Because it is quite an effort, we are going to hold a prize draw with 10 x £10 Amazon gift vouchers amongst all respondents.
We also want to get information from professionals working in further and higher education, and we have a survey them as well. If you know anyone you can publicize that survey to, I’d be very grateful. Again it’s quite long, but there is also a prize draw of 10 x £10 Amazon gift vouchers for the professionals.
Both surveys can be accessed from the following web page:
http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/hci/eu4all/survey/index.htm
The surveys have been extensively tested for accessibility, so they should work well with assistive technologies such as screen readers and magnification programs.
Finally, we are interested in doing interviews with people, to get some more in-depth information. We are interested in recruiting students and anyone working in HE/FE who could give up no more than one hour for an interview. We can travel pretty much anywhere in the UK. Everyone who is interviewed will get an £10 Amazon voucher for their efforts. Please contact me at the email address below if you could spare some time for an interview.
I’m very happy to answer questions about the surveys and the project, either via email or phone. Many thanks for everyone’s help with this. I will prepare a report on the results of the surveys and interviews that I’m make available on my website later in the year. For further information, please contact:
Helen Petrie
Professor of Human Computer Interaction
Department of Computer Science
University of York
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: 01904 434336
Web page: http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~petrie/
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NB: A copy of this Newsletter is available at:
http://www.breakthrough-uk.com/DRN.shtml
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END OF NEWSLETTER
For any further contributions and information, email to:
[log in to unmask]
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Tsitsi Chataika
PhD Student
University of Sheffield
School of Education
Tel/Fax: 0044(0)113 293 8749
Mobile: 0044 (0)79 03859902
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