Call for Papers, Posters and Panel Sessions on Disability Studies: Research and Learning

18th - 20th September 2006, Lancaster University

Thirty years ago Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) were embarking on a project to replace the expertise based on a professionalized knowledge of impairment with one based on the lived experience of disablement. This approach, which has focused on disability as a social relationship, has been developed by disability activists, academics, researchers, policy analysts and practitioners, has evolved into disability studies. The 3rd Disability Studies Association conference provides an opportunity for people from each of these spheres of disability studies to meet together to share their knowledge and experience in studying disability issues.

On the 30th anniversary of the publication of the Fundamental Principles of Disability, the Disability Studies Association invite you to submit abstracts for either paper or poster presentations, which illustrate or reflect the extent to which that change of expertise has occurred. In particular, the themes of the 2006 conference will include:

• Disability History
  
• Challenging the Expert View
  
• Professions and Services
  
• Disability across the Life Course
  
• Disability Studies within Science Subjects
  
• Spatial Change
  
• Morality and Bio Ethics
  
• Emancipatory Methodologies
  
• Inclusive understandings of disability

The Disability Studies Association particularly welcome submissions from students of disability studies and the conference will provide a supportive environment for people making their first such presentations.

The deadline for submissions is 1st March 2006. The Reviewing Panel will make its decisions by 3rd April and the provisional programme will be published on 1st May.