UCRH’s Dr Jodie Bailie is among a group of international disability researchers and disabled scholars who have published a commentary piece in Nature Medicine.
Their commentary addresses the reality that despite bringing great strengths and facing substantial health inequities, disabled people remain underserved by health research. In the article, the authors note that addressing this will require a range of changes in approach and understanding as well as practice.
A key aspect of their article is a set of guiding principles and actions they outline. These are designed to advance disability inclusion in health research, and include:
- Investing time in building trusting respectful relationships with disabled people before initiating research, and maintain these relationships over time.
- Meaningfully involving disabled people in all activities across the research cycle, from idea conception through to the dissemination and implementation of research.
- Adopting a strengths-based approach, recognizing and valuing the diverse lived experiences, knowledge and skills that disabled people bring to health research.
- Being transparent about all aspects of research and involvement activities, including by acknowledging their potential benefits and limitations.
Read the longer set of guiding principles and the full article here.
