What are the gaps in disability research?
NGO perspectives….
Diane Mulligan
Programme Development Advisor
Disability Research:
Evidence – what works and why?
What improves the lives of disabled people?
Anecdotal evidence vs research-based evidence
Why do we need research-based evidence?
Who is our audience?
What counts as research?
Who should do the research?
Evidence…what works and why?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence…what improves the lives of
disabled people?
Evidence – what works and why?
Anecdotal evidence vs research-based evidence
Why do we need research-based evidence?
• to inform policy, to inform practice, to convince, to
challenge, to provide ‘minimum standards’, to offer the best
possible programmes to improve disabled peoples lives?
Who is our audience?
•Academics, practitioners including NGOs, the UN,
governments, policy makers, journalists, disabled people
themselves
Evidence – what works and why?
What counts as research?
• Peer reviewed journal articles alone? Alternative
documentation, mixed media, how do we capture good
practice? What is the role of monitoring and evaluation?
Who should do the research?
• Disabled researchers, non-disabled researchers,
academics, practitioners?
Ultimately…
Does the research change lives? empower disabled
people? improve life chances?
Thank you
Diane Mulligan
Programme Development Advisor