Conducting Research Together with People with Disabilities – New Article Describes Inclusive Research

People with disabilities contribute valuable expertise across many fields of research. This makes them important co-researchers for a wide range of disciplines and research questions. At the same time, however, many people with disabilities are still denied access to academic work due to physical or social barriers. So how can inclusive, collaborative research involving people with and without disabilities succeed?

Citizen science has become a widely used approach to participatory research, in which citizens investigate topics that matter to them. 

In the Open Acess book chapter “Citizen Science for All: Approaches to Inclusive Research (Also) with People with Disabilities”, Ann Christin Schulz, Daniel Krüger, Jessica Klassen, and Bastian Pelka explain how citizen science can be made more accessible. They provide concrete examples and practical recommendations for inclusive citizen science. These include for instance highlighting existing inclusive approaches in citizen science projects. Furthermore, the article outlines how research projects can be planned and implemented in an inclusive and participatory manner. In addition, the article lists advisory services and resources aimed at both enabling and increasing the participation of people with disabilities in research. Overall, the essay makes clear that inclusive projects should become the norm and that not only people with disabilities benefit from participation, but above all the scientific community as a whole. 

„In the IncluScience project, we have developed methods for inclusive scientific research,“ explains project leader Prof. Bastian Pelka. Together with the Berlin-based organization Sozialheld*innen e.V., an accessibility map was developed—through collaborative processes involving experts with disabilities.