Disabled citizens as researchers – Challenges and benefits of collaboration for effective action and change

ABSTRACT

This article reports on the evaluation of an initial pilot for a collaborative research project undertaken in an English county between a service user-led Coalition of Disabled People, the local authority and local university. The project sought to map the assets and resources for/of disabled people in their local community as well as needs and gaps, to inform the Coalition’s strategic planning and raise awareness of disability issues across the county.

The article discusses an inclusive, co-productive approach using participatory action research. It focuses on experiences from the pilot stage of the project and considers how the authors worked together with the required knowledge exchange and power-sharing to recruit and train researchers with expertise from their personal experience of disability. Recruitment ensured they had relevant qualities and skills that could be developed, to increase their confidence, knowledge and skills set as researchers. They then undertook photo-elicited, semi-structured interviews with other disabled people, analysed findings and created photographic exhibitions for dissemination and awareness raising.

Demonstrating a commitment to emancipatory research and collective action for change, the discussion considers the promotion of shared values within the research team, and explores the benefits and challenges encountered during the process and how the particular stages were managed to achieve the beneficial outcomes of the pilot. The article seeks to add to the literature of participatory/emancipatory action research for social work.

KEYWORDS:

• Participatory action research
• photo-elicitation
• social change agenda
• citizen activism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Sue Hollinrake is an Associate Professor and was Programme Lead for Social Work at the University of Suffolk until she (semi) retired in 2017. She had a long career in social work practice as a practitioner and manager before becoming an academic. Her teaching has covered professional values and social work with adults, and her research interests have focused on carers, older people and disabled people.

Sara Spencer is Customer Insight and Intelligence Manager in the Adult and Community Services (ACS) team at Suffolk County Council. Sara has managed numerous research projects and customer consultations during her employment at Suffolk County Council and has enjoyed working in partnership with the University of Suffolk and Suffolk Coalition of Disabled People on this project. Sara has a BSc (Hons) in Health and Social care from the University of Lincoln.

Geof Dix For the period of the research, Geof Dix was a Disability Development Officer for the Suffolk Coalition of Disabled People, which is an organisation in Suffolk run for and by disabled people. It is concerned with promoting disabled people's rights and well-being. Geof has a disability and his expertise about disability issues was invaluable in the organisation of this research project.