We did it together: a participatory action research study on poverty and disability

Abstract

This article presents the perspective of both non-disabled and developmentally disabled people working together in a research project on poverty and disability. Our study used a participatory action research approach that challenges the norm of exclusion in the research process. Control of the research agenda has been inclusive and shared to varying degrees in accordance with the needs and desires of the members of an advisory committee of developmentally disabled people living with low income. We reflect on our process of working together according to four principles of participatory action research with disabled people. We discuss our successes and challenges enacting these principles in the hopes that future researchers can build upon our experience to be more inclusive of developmentally disabled people in their work.

Keywords:

• participatory action research
• inclusion
• poverty
• developmental disability

Notes

1. Focus groups were conducted in the cities of Brantford, Hamilton and Waterloo Region.

2. Poverty-reduction roundtables are community groups built on bringing people from multiple sectors of the community together to address poverty in their region. Each roundtable has its own vision and mission and is driven by local needs, strengths and resources. These groups often consist of community members and organizations with similar values and goals to reduce poverty in their community (Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction n.d.).