1. Pushing the Methodological Envelope: Thinking Creatively to Increase Inclusion “Chaos, Creativity, and Connections in Social Science Research” University of Sussex. 27 th June 2013 Liz Ellis: PhD candidate at the Open University, Faculty of Health and Social Care Milton Keynes UK elizabeth.ellis@open.ac.uk

2. Introduction Context to the research Challenges that pushed me to think creatively Mobile interviewing Reflection on ways to improve the process

3. 2 Perspectives on Disability Normalisation/SRV: People lead ‘normal’ lives as valued members of their communities. (Nirje, 1999; Wolfensberger, 2011) Social Model: Impairment = limitation of function Disability = social barriers restricting activity (Oliver, 2009)

4. Main research questions: Who do people with learning difficulties see regularly? Where do people with learning difficulties see people? What makes it easy or difficult to meet people? How have things changed? How will things change?

7. 4 themed trips relating to the research questions: Theme 1: Places I feel good going to: Theme 2: Places I go to regularly: Theme 3: Outside my front door: Theme 4: Places in my past: 1: PLANNING: 2 hrs max 2: THE TRIP: 20 min - 4 hours 3: ANALYSIS: 2 hrs max per meeting

14. Key references: Atkinson, D. (2004). Research and empowerment: involving people with learning difficulties in oral and life history research. Disability & Society, 19(7), 691–702. Booth, T., & Booth, W. (1996). Sounds of Silence: Narrative research with inarticulate subjects. Disability & Society, 11(1), 55–70. Clark, A., & Emmel, N. (2010). Realities Toolkit # 13: Using walking interviews. CRC. (2007). Tackling rural disadvantage through how public services are reformed. Garcia, C. M., Eisenberg, M. E., Frerich, E. a, Lechner, K. E., & Lust, K. (2012). Conducting go-along interviews to understand context and promote health. Qualitative health research, 22(10), 1395–403 Greenstein, A. (2013). Today’s learning objective is to have a party: playing research with students in a secondary school special needs unit. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. Ledger, S. J. (2012). Staying local: support for people with learning difficulties from inner London 1971-2007. Open University. Nirje, B. (1999). How I came to formulate the Normalization principle. In R. J. Flynn & R. Lemay (Eds.), A Quarter-century of normalization and social role valorization: Evolution and impact. University of Ottawa Press. Oliver, M. (2009). Understanding Disability: From Theory to Practice. Palgrave Macmillan. People First. (2011). Disability LIB (Listen, Include, Build) Inclusion Project Report. London. Trell, E., & Van Hoven, B. (2010). Making sense of place: exploring creative and (inter) active research methods with young people Making sense of place. FENNIA, 188(1). Walmsley, J., & Johnson, K. (2003). Inclusive Research with People with Learning Disabilities: Past, Present and Futures. Jessica Kingsley. Wolfensberger, W. (2011). Reflections on a lifetime in human services and mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 29. doi:10.1352/1934-9556-49.6.441 Zarb, G. (1992). On the Road to Damascus: First Steps towards Changing the Relations of Disability Research Production. Disability & Society, 7(2), 125–138.