WORKSHOP REPORT DISABLED PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT RESEARCH

Transcription

1 WORKSHOP REPORT Workshop held on June 29 th at the Eight Biennial Conference of Caribbean and International Social Work Educators Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago DISABLED PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT RESEARCH

2 DISABLED PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT RESEARCH Research must be conducted in order to gather critical information needed by policy makers in the region if the lives of persons with disabilities are to be changed. This was the consensus of the participants at the research workshop/discussion session entitled Disabled People Speak About Research presented by the Disability Studies Unit of the Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of the West Indies on Friday 29 th June 2007 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Trinidad. This workshop formed part of the Eight Biennial Conference of Caribbean and International Social Work Educators (ACSWE) which was held during the period June 26 th to 30 th 2007 and which was based on the theme Exploring solutions for our Times: Research, Education and Innovative Practice. The session was chaired by Ms. Chris Stogdon of Huddersfield, UK and the presenters consisted of Dr. Innette Cambridge, Co-ordinator of the Social Policy Programme within the Department of Behavioural Sciences, and initiator of Disability Studies at UWI, St. Augustine, Ms. Jacqueline Huggins, Research Assistant, Disability Studies, UWI, St. Augustine, Mr. George Daniel, Chairperson of both the Trinidad and Tobago Chapter, and North America and the Caribbean Region of Disabled Peoples International (DPI) and Ms. Indira Williams, member of Trinidad and Tobago Chapter, Disabled Peoples International. Participants included representatives from UWI, organizations of and for persons with disabilities (including Leonard Cheshire Foundation Home and Combined Disabilities of Trinidad and Tobago) as well as other conference participants. Dr. Innette Cambridge, Co-ordinator, Social Policy Programme UWI The research workshop was very much in keeping with the theme of the conference as the issues of disability were explored and solutions sought in the context of disability research which ultimately would affect the education and practice of key stakeholders including policy makers. The session began with Dr. Cambridge providing an overview of Social Disability Studies at The University of the West Indies. 2

3 The speaker emphasized that the impetus for this initiative was the 116-day protest which was started on May 6 th 2003 by DPI, to champion the cause of disabled people in the country. Dr. Cambridge also informed the participants about achievements to date which included the introduction of a Social Disability Studies course in 2004 as a new elective to the Social Work Unit and a number of workshops which were conducted in collaboration with organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Ms. Huggins presented a literature review on disability research which focused on issues such as research agendas, different approaches to research and their implications, and the present research needs of the disabled community. A common thread running through the findings was that the time had come for a shift in the paradigm, that is, a movement from research on disabled people to research with disabled people. Participants concurred with the literature that there was a dire need for a new framework of research which should involve persons with disabilities as active participants or researchers and which would also include their lived experiences. In essence, persons with disabilities should be given a voice. Mr. George Daniel, President of T&T Chapter, Disabled Peoples International, making his contribution Before his presentation, Mr. Daniel expressed approval of the work of the Disability Studies Unit and pledged to continue working with the University since he believed that this work will assist in bringing about change for persons with disabilities in the society. The presentation by Mr. Daniel was very engaging as he provided not only the views of DPI (Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean) but he highlighted many experiences faced by persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago which brought home the point that there was grave importance for a more aggressive approach to ensuring a place for disability research in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. 3

4 In keeping with the philosophy that people with disability must be given a voice in matters concerning them, Ms. Williams who is a wheelchair user was given the opportunity to present the perspective of persons with disabilities. She was very effective as she described personal experiences which confirmed much of what was expressed by the earlier presenters. She ended by making a call for the integration of persons with disabilities in the wider society and suggested that this will be possible once we stop looking at the inability and start looking at the ability of the individual. Ms. Indira Williams, member of T&T Chapter, Disabled Peoples International The presentations were followed by open discussions by the participants. This proved to be very lively and informative as members of the audience with varied disabilities agreed with points made by Ms. Bowlah as they enthusiastically provided their views on the issues at hand. Much was learnt from their experiences as persons spoke on a wide range issues including discriminatory practices, gender, invisible disabilities, employment, education and training, family life, transportation, housing, sexuality and health. To this end, many relevant suggestions for the way forward were presented. A member of the audience share her experiences 4

5 Ms. Julia Ribero, Disability Affairs Unit, Ministry of Social Development Feedback from the workshop indicates that there is a vital role for Disability Studies at the University of the West Indies as a catalyst which will cause change in the lives of persons with disabilities. The University has been challenged to continue its work in developing a research agenda in collaboration with persons with disabilities since according to the words of Mr. Daniel there must be research to inform the policy makers. If there is no information then nothing will be changed in the lives of persons with disabilities. 5