Release of Research on Disabled Postgraduate Experiences

The LaunchPAD project coordinated by AHEAD and the National Disabled Postgraduates Advisory Commitee (NDPAC) are delighted to release new research on the experiences of disabled postgraduate students. This report titled "Voices in the Community: Experiences of Disabled Postgraduate Students in Irish Higher Education" was funded by the HEA. 

Download the Voices in the Community Report

Other recently published AHEAD research shows that only 3.3% of the total postgraduate population engage with Disability Support Services, in comparison to 9.3% at undergraduate level.

Through 15 semi-structured interviews with current postgraduate students, LaunchPAD explored and developed a number of findings relating to the disabled postgrad experience, disability supports, funding, and the supervisor/student relationship.

Many students voiced their frustration with feelings of social isolation exacerbated by often inaccessible campuses.

“There’s a car park up next to another building. The ramps between that building and the building you need to go to are too steep or they’re inaccessible [so I can’t get there].” 

Many participants discussed being forced to both self-advocate and self-accommodate in the wake of inadequate supports tailored to fit PhD and Masters students.

“[I] explained to them how frustrated I was, and I had to [contact] the SU president, the SU welfare officer and the head of my course. I literally had to force people to take accountability for this.”  

Some participants were left in precarious financial positions because illness or other flare ups forced them into long periods of absence, with a year of funding going with it.

“I think with PhDs, I think there needs to be more flexibility around [part-time]. Where there should be a thing where PhDs can go, look. You know, I need an extra six months but not have the fees.”  

These and other findings are contained in the Voices in the Community report, alongside a series of recommendations for how to improve access to and success in postgraduate study for disabled people. Following its publication, LaunchPAD will begin phase 2 of this research examining system perspectives on this issue (see call below).

Download the Voices in the Community Report

 

Call for Participants - Phase 2: Voices in the System Research

Following up on the Voices in the Community research, LaunchPAD is now undertaking phase 2 research focussed on exploring system perspectives on the inclusion of disabled people in postgraduate study. To that end, we are seeking participation of the following groups in semi-structured interviews/focus groups on this topic:

• Disability support/access professionals in higher education institutions who support the disabled postgraduate journey
• PhD or Masters supervisors with experience supervising a disabled researcher
• Relevant institutional and national policy stakeholders which play a role in developing institutional/national policy affecting participation and success in postrgraduate studies (e.g HEI Deans of Graduate Studies, HEI Heads of Research, grant awarding bodies such as Research Ireland, representatives from relevent state agencies/departments etc)

Learn more about the research and register your interest in partcipating here.