Disability Equality in English Primary Schools: exploring teaching about disability equality and non-disabled children's

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leeds
Department Name: Sociology & Social Policy

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

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Beckett A (2009) 'Challenging disabling attitudes, building an inclusive society': considering the role of education in encouraging non-disabled children to develop positive attitudes towards disabled people in British Journal of Sociology of Education

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Beckett A (2013) Non-disabled children's ideas about disability and disabled people in British Journal of Sociology of Education

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Beckett A (2013) Anti-oppressive pedagogy and disability: possibilities and challenges in Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

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Beckett A (2010) 'Away with the fairies?' Disability within primary-age children's literature in Disability & Society

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Beckett A (2012) Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people: definition of, rationale and prospects for anti-disablist education in British Journal of Sociology of Education

 
Description The findings of this research were accepted as 'evidence' to the Lamb Inquiry: Special educational needs and parental confidence, 2009. The findings were referenced by the EHRC as of concern within its Research Support 70 'The equality duties and schools'. http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/documents/research/rr70_equality_duties_and_schools.pdf Cambridge House, a London-based charity, was influenced by the findings of this research and as a result have developed a sports-based intervention/project designed to bring disabled and non-disabled children together to take part in activities designed to challenge disabling attitudes. This project, entitled, 'Playdagogy', has been designed in association with Play International. Angharad Beckett was asked to undertake a participatory evaluation of this project and to act in an advisory capacity to Cambridge House. The original, ESRC-funded 'DEEPS' project (ES/E017266/1) also informed the development of a further research project, 'Together Through Play'. This project was funded by the Leverhulme Foundation. It considered how toys and games might be designed that encouraged 'inclusive play' between disabled and non-disabled children within school and other contexts. It worked with non-disabled children and their friends as co-designers. It was a collaboration between Beckett and colleagues in the School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds. As a result of her work stemming from the 'DEEPS' Project (ES/E017266/1), Beckett was asked to become a member of an EU-funded COST Action network, entitled 'LUDI' and to lead one of the working groups of this network. This network explores how inclusive play might be enabled and is informed by the findings of the DEEPS Project and Together Through Play Project (alongside other research conducted by the wider network). It is an interdisciplinary network of academics and practitioners from across 28 countries. The focus is upon 'impact' - making a difference in the lives of disabled children, their friends and families.
First Year Of Impact 2009
Sector Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism
Impact Types Cultural,Societal
 
Description Non-disabled children's understanding of disability 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact This was a presentation of a working paper (in ppt format) summarising the findings and initial conclusions from stage 1 of the research.

I have been asked to join a COST Action Network 'Ludi', focusing upon how to enable inclusive play for disabled children and this necessitates understanding the attitudes of non-disabled children towards disability/disabled people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
URL http://www.sociology.leeds.ac.uk/research/projects/deeps/
 
Description Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people : the views of schools and teachers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact This was a presentation of a working paper summarising the findings and initial conclusions from stage two of the research.

I have been asked to lead a working group for the COST Action Ludi network. This workshop will consider the contexts of inclusive play for disabled children, including Schools.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
URL http://www.sociology.leeds.ac.uk/research/projects/deeps/