Dr. Bronagh Byrne (Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr. Ciaran Burke (Ulster University) are currently accepting abstracts for chapters in a new edited collection examining disability and research. The text itself will explore the empirical process from the perspective and experience of the disabled researcher. As a companion to texts examining research processes with disabled respondents, this collection will provide a resource for disabled researchers that considers how we can navigate the rules and procedures of social research methods, whilst retaining the scientific rigour of the chosen method. We also wish to consider the consequences that can arise from disabled researchers’ attempts at “passing” and the benefits that can emerge from a reflexive approach to method.
To this end we envisage an edited collection that encompasses contributions from disabled researchers both within and beyond the disability studies field, reflecting the fact that disabled scholars may not necessarily work on disability issues. Examples of issues that may be considered include physical and communicational barriers inherent in some research processes, the disjuncture between need for adjustments to carry out ‘good quality research’ and availability of resources, implications for researcher identity, and disclosure of disability to research participants. There may of course be many other issues that warrant consideration.
The deadline for abstracts is Monday 8th May 2017. To discuss the focus of the text or potential abstracts please contact Dr. Ciaran Burke c.burke@ulster.ac.uk