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Supervisory Team – Dr Sian Jones, CPsychol.  Dr Clare Uytman, CPsychol and Dr. Kieran Taylor

This PhD project will entail an in-depth exploration of the power of disability representation in educational settings to address ableism. This will be addressed from the perspectives of children themselves, their educators and/or their families (parents, carers, siblings, chosen family). The study will contribute to understandings of how disability is and isn’t represented in educational settings, and how such representation informs attitudes and identities surrounding disability in education. This work understands disability as an (in)equalities issue and a path forward around building disability literacy (one’s capacity to talk and think about disability in anti-ableist ways).

Past research by the supervisors has sought to increase disabled children’s inclusion in the toy industry and local playgrounds. This study will expand and push that work into new contributions around disability representation in children’s educational materials more generally, creating innovation in theory, policy and practice in the field of inclusion and children’s rights.

The project will start with secondary data analysis in the form of a systematic review of disability representation and anti-ableism in children’s media and educational materials. The findings of this stage of the project will then be synthesised with current literature and policy in the field of inclusion and inequality, identifying new gaps and specifying research questions. The specific methodology and methods will be shaped by the first stage of the project but is anticipated to involve surveys, visual and creative methods, and interviews.

The successful PhD candidate will develop skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, representation and inclusion, and tensions between inclusive policy and practice. The supervisors have expertise in a range of methodologies including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, including participatory methods with a range of participants including parents and children (including disabled children).

If you have any questions about this topic, please contact Dr Sian Jones (SJones@qmu.ac.uk), Dr Clare Uytman (CUytman@qmu.ac.uk) or Dr Kieran Taylor (KTaylor1@qmu.ac.uk)

Physical activity levels in neurodivergent (ND) children and young people are extremely low, with as little as 10-14% of ND young people being sufficiently active . ND young people face health risks related to low levels of physical activity (e.g., anxiety, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular issues) and frequently experience difficulties accessing inclusive physical activity . Research on neurodivergent young people’s physical activity could be instrumental in improving mental and physical health outcomes. While there is increasing research in this area, there are several concerns with existing research: (1) Research predominantly focuses on specific forms of ND (usually autism) rather than ND young people more broadly, ignoring co-occurring differences. (2) Findings are disparate, leading to a lack of census and evidence-based practice by PA providers (3) The focus of most research to date has been on physical activity as an “intervention”, to reduce and even “normalise” ND behaviours which perpetuate stigma, and reduce inclusion . There is increasing demand for evidence-based inclusive guidance from stakeholders, but researchers do not know the priority areas for future physical activity research that will make a meaningful difference to ND young people.��

Therefore, this PhD project will have two aims: (1) To review the current state of research looking at the lived experiences of ND people in relation to sport and physical activity, and (2) using co-production methods to identify and document research priorities of ND young people in physical activity and sport to facilitate more cohesive and focuses for research. These two aims will identify pertinent research on specific areas of sport and physical activity research that will translate into changing the lives of ND young people with neurodiversity affirmative approaches.��

This is an exciting interdisciplinary PhD project at ����ֱ�� bringing together supervisors with significant expertise in neurodiversity and developmental psychology (Dr Rachael Davis), the psychology of physical activity (Dr Rosie Arthur) and inclusive approaches to physical activity (Prof Marietta van der Linden).

The successful candidate will have a 1st/ 2.1 Honours Undergraduate degree, and/or a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Psychology, Childhood Studies, Education, Sport Science, Health) and/or equivalent research experience. We particularly welcome applicants who identify as Neurodivergent.��

Your proposal should detail relevant interdisciplinary literature you might draw upon as well as outlining your proposed research design for the studies outlined above.��

Contact for enquiries: Rachael Davis (RDavis@qmu.ac.uk)