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Disability Research Network 11th Edition E-Newsletter: February 2008
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Editor’s Comments: 

Welcome to the 11th edition of the Disability Research Network e-newsletter (in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University and Breakthrough UK Ltd).  I would like to thank all those who contributed to this edition.   Please, remember to submit contributions for the next edition by latest 27th of February, 2008 so that we have the next edition on time. When submitting, please remember to use simple text version for easy accessibility. I am also pleased to inform you that I am now part of the Disability & Society Editorial Board. 

Best Wishes

Tsitsi Chataika
 
Coordinator’s Comments: 

Please find below the 11th 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
d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk 

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1. News From Manchester Metropolitan University, Research &Social Change

(a) SOCIAL CHANGE AND WELL BEING SEMINAR SERIES
SPRING TERM 2008
The Social Change and Well Being Research Centre
Research Institute of Health and Social Change
The Manchester Metropolitan University
http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/

The Social Change and Well Being Research Centre engages in research
which informs policy and practice, enhances effectiveness of organisations, celebrates diversity and works within a social justice framework to enhance people's lives, health and well being. Researchers draw upon a variety of theories and approaches to research in order to understand and change the oppressive conditions of contemporary society. This seminar series reflects this commitment
to social justice with an explicit focus on the development of theory, methodology, analysis and activism. All sessions, 12.30 - 2pm in Gaskell Campus of the University in rooms detailed below - For maps visit
http://www.mmu.ac.uk/about/locations/gaskell-and-hollings.php

Mick Finlay, University of Surrey, 5th March 2008; Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Looking at power in interactional practice: an example from residential services for people with learning difficulties?"

Nigel Cox, MMU, 12th March 2008;
Room OB109, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Talking to informants about disability: situated knowledge and common sense"

Jacqui Gabb, Open University, 9th April 2008 12.30 - 2.00 pm Venue?
Room TBA, 12.20 - 2pm, "Boundaries of Intimacy: What Counts as an
Intimate Relationship and Who's Counting?" 

Sue Baines, MMU, 16th April 2008;
Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Seeing the whole picture?  Reflections on
an e-government programme to support multi-agency working"
 
Additional seminars and further details to follow.
For information about Social Change and Well Being Research Centre
please contact Dan Goodley (d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk) or Rebecca
Lawthom (r.lawthom@mmu.ac.uk)
 
(2)  News from The University of Manchester, School of Education
 
Contact: Ian Carson (iain.carson@manchester.ac.uk)
(a) Popular Culture Association Conference, San Franscisco (19th - 22nd March, 2008)
 
Below is an abstract of a paper that will be presented by Craig Blyth and Iaín Carson at the above conference:

Abstract:
This paper will explore the complexities and intersection of disability, sexuality and masculinity for teenagers and young men who identify as both disabled and gay, with a specific emphasis on the outcomes of their attempts to access popular gay culture. Drawing on data from two different research projects, we explore how the presence of discursively constructed ‘sexual certainties’ within English schools constructs disabled young men as either heterosexual or more often, asexual. Through the analysis of data gathered, the consequences of these ‘certainties’ are explored.  We examine how, for many young disabled gay men, the heteronormative and disablist ‘certainties’ they encountered in school are replaced by an equally oppressive set of ‘certainties’ when they attempt to access elements of gay culture. Using data gathered from disabled gay men who have attempted to spend time in Manchester’s ‘Gay Village’, we discuss the regulatory ‘certainties’ that are present within this space. For example, we explore how one such ‘certainty’ relating to gay masculinities that is present within commercial gay spaces, operates as a form of peer surveillance in relation to the required physical attributes of the men who occupy these spaces.  We conclude the paper by exploring how the privileging of the 'Ganymede archetype' [young and beautiful] (Wright; 1997) within gay spaces results in many disabled gay men being rendered ‘other’ as they do not meet the desideratum of the established ‘norm’.
 
Reference
 
Wright, L. [Ed] (1997) The Bear Book: Reading in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture, Binghampton, Hawthorn Press.
 
Presenters: Iain Carson and Craig Blyth, University of Manchester
 
3. News From Lancaster University
(a) 4th Biennial Disability Studies Conference at Lancaster University, UK
2nd - 4th September 2008

Keynote speakers:
 
* Lorraine Gradwell, MA, MCIM, Chief Executive, Breakthrough UK Ltd.

* Dr Helen Meekosha, University of New South Wales

* Dr Jenny Morris, Independent policy analyst and research consultant.

* Prof. Alan Roulstone, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
 
The Lancaster disability studies conferences have brought together researchers, practitioners, policy makers and activists from around the world, to share and debate research, ideas and developments in disability studies. Disability studies is concerned with the inter-disciplinary development of an increasing body of knowledge and practice, which locates the changing character of disability in the social and economic structure and culture of the society in which it is found, rather than in individual limitations. Disability Studies seeks to advance teaching, research and scholarship that is concerned with: 
 
-the analysis of disability and the exclusion of disabled people as a social consequence of impairment; and
-the identification and development of strategies for fundamental social and political changes that are necessary for the creation of an inclusive society in which disabled people are full participants, and are guaranteed the same rights as non-disabled people. 
 
Open Call for Papers
We invite the submission of abstracts for either symposium, paper or poster presentations on current research, ideas and developments in disabilities studies. In particular the reviewing committee would welcome submissions in the following areas:
 
-emotional and mental distress
-supporting independent living
-global perspectives on disability
-citizenship and disabled people
-globalisation and disablement
-emancipatory methodologies
 
The reviewing committee would also welcome abstracts for poster presentations about the work of organisations, networks and groups which are related to disability studies.
 
Submissions are particularly welcomed from students, activists and firsttime presenters. We seek to provide a supportive environment for people making their first conference presentations and to be as accessible as possible to all delegates. The online submission form is available at:http://www.disabilitystudies.net/index.php?title=Call%20for%20Papers%202008#
 
The closing date for submissions is 30th April 2008. Presenters must book onto the conference by 30th June for their papers/posters to be included in the conference schedule. 
 
For more information please contact Hannah Morgan
h.morgan@lancaster.ac.uk
 
4. News From The University of Leeds, Centre for Disability Studies
Contact: Mark Priestly (M.A.Priestley@leeds.ac.uk)

Regular news updates from the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds are now available both on the CDS web page and also to subscribers via an RSS feed at: http://feed43.com/cdsnews.xml

January saw the launch of a major new research initiative. The European Commission's new 'Academic Network of European Disability experts'
(ANED), with research partners in more than 30 countries, will be led by the Centre for Disability Studies in partnership with Dutch management
company Human European Consultancy.

February will see the start of a new EU Framework 7 research project,
'European Research Agendas for Disability Equality' (EuRADE),
investigating the research priorities and capacities of disabled people's
organisations in EU countries. The project is a collaboration with the
European Disability Forum and the University of Maastricht (Netherlands).

We are also pleased announce the award a new research project by the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to review and
investigate the national situation of disabled students in higher education.

Further details about news items, research, publications and taught
courses can all be found on the CDS website at: www.leeds.ac.uk
 
5. News From Partson M. Phiri - University of Hull (phiripatson@yahoo.com)
 (a) Globalization; Challenges to the Equalization of Opportunities  to the Disability Movement -  A Paper prepared by Partson M.Phiri EdD. Candidate, November, 2007.

Please find the abstract of the presentation below:

Abstract: 
Over time, human communities have tended to be gregarious and to live in closely knit societies. but the general assumptions that individuals living among the communities ought to be seen as making meaningful contributions to the general well being of all, as well as contributing productively to the human and social capital building capacity of their communities has tended to marginalize disabled individuals. Society seems to have greatly compounded this marginalization because of its environmental barrier manipulations. The emergence of globalizing forces has also not spared further marginalization of disabled people. Consequently, disabled people found themselves grossly challenged to gain equal access to services, health, work and education as well as to disentangle themselves from the burden of poverty which seems very entrenched among them. To open up opportunities, disabled people have had to self organize themselves to grapple with these challenges. Through their own organizations like the Disabled People International, disabled people have fortunately, successfully managed to bring their issues onto the public domain and onto agendas of International forums such as the United Nations Organization, World Heath Organizations or the European Union, However, as trends seem to show, the global population seems to be on the increase and evidently also, will be an increase the number of disabled people. Wars and the continued exposure of people to disabling elements will also exasperate the situation. Unless the United Nations, national governments, local authorities and communities, and other interested parties put policies to curtail the effects of globalization, disabled people will continue to marginalized and may miss opportunities in the globalizing national, regional and local development spheres. 
 
Comment from the Editor:  If you need a full version of this conference presentation, you can contact me and I can email it to you.  However, for any comments regarding the content of the paper, directly contact the contributor. Thanks.
 
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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 contact: 
 
Tsitsi Chataika  - Editor
Email: t.chataika@yahoo.co.uk
Tel/Fax: +44113 293 8749 or +4479 03859902

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