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This thesis offers critical exploration of the intersection of four elements within the historical space, or field, of UK theatre dance between 2007 and 2012: disability, impairment, dance and artistry. It addresses four questions: What is disability? What is disability in relation to dance? What supports the entry of a disabled dance artist into the field of professional dance in the twenty-first century? How can we approach a critical analysis of the works they create? At the centre of the thesis are case studies of three self-described disabled dance artists, performers and choreographers: Caroline Bowditch, Marc Brew, and Claire Cunningham. The studies attend to the form and content of their creative work, the structures of the dance field in which they practice as artists, and their personal and career trajectories. The studies are both situated by and situate earlier chapters addressing constructions of disability, cultural representations of disability and the emerging field of Disability Arts. They demonstrate that disability, in dance as in other fields, concerns attitudes, arrangements and structures that disable participation. These are attitudes fed by imaginings around the ideal dancing body, and the illusion that variations in bodily form and capabilities are neither normal nor to be expected. I draw on Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and field to consider the interconnections between structures, external and internalised, that support or limit the disabled artist’s perception of what is possible for them within the professional dance field. Using Cameron’s affirmative model of disability, I argue that when disabled dance artists are freed to use their experiences of living in a disabling world, and to make use of the unique capabilities of their bodies as valid sources for their art, they can and do contribute to the capacity of dance as an art form to explore the full depth and range of human experience.

Structured to help readers from a range of disciplines, the thesis looks at the creation of opportunities for participation in adventure sport, specifically the development of a postural support for intermediate level performers with spinal cord injury in sea kayaking. The research has shown that it is possible to increase the performance level of disabled athletes in paddle sport through the development of appropriate adaptive equipment, which in turn promotes inclusion and the broadening of opportunities. This research project takes place against a backdrop of national events and developments; notably, changes in UK legislation to do with disability access (DDA 1995), and developments in legislation to do with outdoor safety. The research also takes place against a backdrop of national campaigns, such as the ‘Campaign for Adventure’, and an increasing number of drives to make the UK’s population more active. The broad-based multidisciplinary approach is in line with reported priorities in international disability sport research, while encompassing paddlesport specific criteria. The research takes the approach of design research to develop the product. Initially the reported studies evaluate the design process utilising desk-based research. They then proceed to utilise design methodology in field-based short and longer expedition settings. The design process utilises existing user-centred staged design approaches to explore methods for wider application. The findings reveal that the development of opportunities in adventure sport with disabled people involves engaging with a social mess. The action of problem definition and resolution can be termed in this paradigm as a wicked problem, being that is does not have one clear solution. The information needing to be exchanged in the problem resolution can be considered as sticky, being that the research process takes place in a specialised arena characterised by sparse resources and with a multidisciplinary team. The research has informed the creation of twelve tools to support those practitioners involved in this area. Used from the bottom up or top down, they provide a common language between the participant, coach, therapist and researcher to help educate and inspire each person to understand the true nature of the problem, improve the shared understanding within the team, and thereby reducing the stickiness of the information. The effect on the development of new equipment is to improve focus and user participation, so making it easier to work within the social mess. A new postural support was designed for use by intermediate level sea kayakers with spinal cord injury, the design of which is given in study 9, which is evaluated in study 10. The study suggests that future work in this area should focus on the coordination of sport science support, further exploration of the link between design research and social change, explore the validity of the tools across a broader population, and further develop the design so that the new equipment can be of benefit to the broader population.

The purpose of this research study was to conduct exploratory research to examine federally-mandated annual English language proficiency (ELP) assessment of English language learners (ELLs) and their use of accommodations on the assessment. First the researcher provides a review of the literature regarding accommodations provided for ELLs, students with disabilities on English assessments, and ELLs with disabilities on ELP assessments. The researcher examined the literature for differences and similarities between the three types of testing scenarios as well as identifying gaps in the literature for students who are both ELLs and who also have a disability and how their ELP is assessed, taking into account their disability. Based on the research presented in the review of the literature, the researcher provides the results from investigating data related to ELLs with disabilities and specific accommodations used by ELLs with disabilities to contribute to the limited current research available regarding this subgroup and to explore how the annual ELP assessment mandate is actuated at the state, district and classroom levels. The researcher used one state’s existing quantitative ELP assessment data to examine types of accommodations used for ELLs with disabilities on the statewide ELP assessment and then explored potential relationships between specific disabilities and accommodations used. The researcher investigated factors that contribute to the relationships between disabilities, accommodations, and performance on the ELP assessment through qualitative data from interviews with state, district, and school level personnel to further expand on results from the quantitative ELP assessment data.

Since the inception of new museum theory, and the emphasis it places on the social purpose of museums within society, museum professionals and museum studies theorists have struggled to define what role museums must take in combating prejudices and fostering better understating of difference. Richard Sandell is one such theorist who writes about the importance of, and need for, greater inclusion of disabled artists and works of art containing themes of disability into exhibitions and display. This thesis examines Sandell’s scholarship, noting its foundation in new museum theory and disability studies, and then, employing a case study of the American Visionary Art Museum, illustrates the issues illuminated in Sandell’s writing. Finally, utilizing the case study, this thesis will offer aims for further research within museum studies not yet considered by Sandell, especially within educational goals and activities of the museum.

This is a sociological essay made by Johanna Friman. ”When it comes to sex” purpose is to understand the relation between individuals with intellectual disabilities sexuality (IID) and the  role adaption of staff members at group homes. The purpose is also to understand the meaning of attitudes in relation to role adaption and how staff members cooperation affect these roles. For the current essay I have used the dramaturgy perspective as a tool for the understanding of staff members role adoption. To understand the meaning of the sexuality amongst IID and as a completion to the dramaturgy perspective I have used the theory of sexual script as an implement. These theories has allowed me to understand role adaption in relation to sex and intimacy. The method that’s been used to gather information for the empirical material is mainly interviews. Observations has also been made mainly in purpose to get a deeper knowledge for the interpretation of the material from the interviews. The results of the study shows that staff members take on three different kinds of roles. The supportive role rises when the purpose is to support the sexuality of IID. The protective role rises when the purpose is to reduce sexual behaviour amongst IID to protect them. The last and third role is taken on by staff members when the purpose is to teach IID about acceptable sexual behavior.

This thesis is an exploratory study of the everyday lives of four women with various physical disabilities and how these women came to view themselves as sexual beings. Using an intersectional analysis and in-depth interviews, it examines these women's perceptions of expectations of normalcy in regard to life style, body image, and sexual practices, especially the expectations of their able-bodied family members and friends. It also explores how these disabled women deal with the stigmas they encounter in their everyday lives. Special attention is focused on how disabled people are often viewed as asexual or without sexual desires. By contrast, this thesis highlights the sexual agency of the disabled and includes policy implications that entail new ways of defining sexual practices, as well as the need for sex education for the disabled.

The purpose of this series of studies was to evaluate the effects of schedule thinning and delay-to-reinforcement following intervention for individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Study one was a systematic review of the available literature on schedule thinning, and study two evaluated the effects of a novel approach to delay-to-reinforcement following functional communication training. Results of both studies found that schedule thinning and delay-to-reinforcement are efficacious procedures for continued reductions in challenging behavior following intervention.

MSc, Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2007