We have agreed to provide within the journal a list of completed theses in the field of Disability Studies. This will be an important resource for readers to follow through as well as provide the names of colleagues who are new entrants to the discipline.
This is an open invitation for theses completed from 2014 which fit with the Aims and Scope of Disability & Society.
Please provide the following information:
Name of author
Thesis title
University awarding degree
Degree awarded and year
A 100-word synopsis of the thesis
Email address
Please forward this information to Helen Oliver, Disability & Society Editorial Office. Email: [email protected]
We will include this call for Doctoral Announcements in forthcoming issues of the journal.
Executive Editors
Name of author: Miro Griffiths
Thesis title: These Days Are Ours: Exploring Young Disabled People's Experiences and Views of the Disabled People's Movement
University awarding degree: Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Degree awarded and year: PhD, 2019
This thesis explores challenges encountered by young disabled people participating and engaging within the UK Disabled People’s Movement (DPM). Challenges they face were identified following a qualitative investigation. For the Movement to be inclusive, and remain committed to the social model of disability and accessible to young disabled people, the DPM must provide young members and newcomers with the resources and support to offer a vision for a new and inclusive society. The social model should be understood as an ‘oppositional device’ that disrupts normative practices inherent in the political, economic, and cultural realms.
Email: [email protected]
Name of author: Santosh Kumar
Thesis Title: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Stereotype, Prejudice, and Discrimination of Gender and Disability in Talk and Text
University awarding degree: University of Delhi, India
Degree awarded and year: Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics, 2018
This thesis examines the discursive construction of gender and disability and the literary or linguistic positioning of women and disabled people. The thesis begins by considering some significant historical moments, the sociolinguistic contexts and recent representation of women and persons with disabilities in both print and electronic media. Applying the theoretical orientation of sociolinguistic, discourse analysis, gender, and disability studies, the thesis examines proverbs and idiomatic expressions in Hindi that depict negative images of gender and disability and popular publicity imagery. The thesis presents a critical sociolinguistic analysis of stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination against gender and disability using the data.
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Name of author: Kate Lapham
Thesis title: Redefining the Experience of Raising a Child with Disabilities in Tajikistan
University awarding degree: Lehigh University, USA
Degree awarded and year: PhD, 2018
This dissertation explores the relationship between empowerment and social capital formation among mothers of children with disabilities in Tajikistan in the face of barriers that include social stigma, discrimination within their families, poverty, and lack of services. Building on literature in community psychology and international development, this dissertation's three case studies explore the relationship between empowerment and social capital growing from crisis or need to gain knowledge through support from others, examining and how such partnerships, in turn, lead to increased confidence and desire to work together in support of others, while nurturing a growing feeling of self-worth and self-efficacy.
Email: [email protected]
Name of author: Edgar Pacheco
Thesis title: Vision Impairment and the Transition to University Education: The Role of ICTs
University awarding degree: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Degree awarded and year: PhD in Information Systems, 2016
This study explores the transition experiences of a group of students with vision impairments and the way they used information and communication technologies (ICTs) to manage the challenges of their transition journey in higher education. The study’s interest was in the use of social media and mobile devices. This qualitative study was based on the action research methodology, drawing from observations, a researcher diary, focus groups, individual interviews, and data from social media. The findings expand current understanding of student retention theory by incorporating the role of ICTs and present a set of interconnected transition issues experienced by students with vision impairments.
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]