Disability Research Diary

When the world is tilting, put on sunglasses

A glims into an often hidden part of sight loss: eye pain and eye headaches; and what it is like working with them. Continue reading When the world is tilting, put on sunglasses

South Africa – an unexpected hiking adventure

During an unexpected hiking adventure during a research trip, my sighted guide and I were put to the test. It raises the question of independence versus interdependence and trust and teamwork. Continue reading South Africa – an unexpected hiking adventure

A think tank on chronic pain

From the 19th to 21st February, researchers from South Africa, Zambia and the UK met in a lovely little conference centre outside of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Why? To discuss chronic pain. Researchers came from across the medical field including physiotherapists, psychologists, GPs and neurologists. They were joined by some social science researchers. As most ofContinue reading A think tank on chronic pain

Ableism – it’s not a myth part 1 – even my kids are ableist

Ableism is something many people outside of the disability community or those not close to it have never even heard of. Yet, it’s something we live with every day. It is everywhere and even my own children come home with it.Continue reading Ableism – it’s not a myth part 1 – even my kids are ableist

Do you see the irony? Inclusion and Inclusion Sessions at Conferences

Inclusion sessions at management conferences are often anything but inclusive, ironic isn’t it? This post talks about some of the experiences I had as well as how to do a better job. Continue reading Do you see the irony? Inclusion and Inclusion Sessions at Conferences

Becoming visible

Today is the International Day for the Rights of People with Disabilities (IDPWD). This year’s theme is “Not all disabilities are visible”. What does this mean? Well, in a narrower sense, it means that I will join the international disability pride and awareness movement by wearing purple #purpleLightUp. Even my guide dog has a littleContinue reading Becoming visible

Livestreaming the China Dream: Grassroots Micro-influencers in China

This post was written by Dr. Yingqin Zheng, you can find her profile here On 20 April 2020, President Xi JinPing stood in front of a livestreaming set in the Jinmi village in Shaanxi province where villagers promote online their local speciality, cloud ear fungus. He said new industrial development in e-commerce has great potentialContinue reading Livestreaming the China Dream: Grassroots Micro-influencers in China

Images & Words workshop in Havana, Cuba

This post was written by Dr. James Kent and Professor Hannah Thompson In December 2019, Prof Hannah Thompson and Dr James Kent led a GCRF-funded photography and creative audio-description workshop at the Espacio Altamira in Havana, Cuba. The workshop was the latest in a series of events that forms part an ongoing project which hasContinue reading Images & Words workshop in Havana, Cuba

“The dog cannot go on board” – challenges when flying with a guide dog

I travel a lot for work and often take my guide dog. While everything goes smoothly most of the times, I wanted to highlight some of those times where it didn’tContinue reading “The dog cannot go on board” – challenges when flying with a guide dog

India #2: The power of changemakers for disability

This is my second blog post on my 8-day research journey to New Delhi, India. The first one was more on the experience of travelling in India with a visual disability, this one is more about the research I did there and the people I met. This trip was quite different form my journey toContinue reading India #2: The power of changemakers for disability

Doing disability research as a disabled researcher!? Cliché or opportunity OR Why I’m starting this blog I’ve started my PhD in 2008 but only began doing research on disability in 2017 and made it my core focus in late 2018. You might be wondering why it took me 10 years to make that transition. It’s notContinue reading Doing disability research as a disabled researcher!? Cliché or opportunity OR Why I’m starting this blog