International Day of People with Disability, 2023
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year, raising awareness of people with disability and promoting the equitable inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of life. This International Day of People with Disability, The Hopkins Centre and Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability are coming together to spotlight exciting work coming out of our centres at Griffith University which have grown out of awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with disability, including those in the process of rehabilitation. These exciting projects are aiming to reduce people's barriers to inclusion, access and participation across a range of life domains from wellbeing to work.
The Hopkins Centre
Health Literacy in Rehabilitation Project
Chief Investigator: Dr Delena Amsters
Current models of healthcare and disability support are focused on providing autonomy and choice over decision-making for people with disability. Central to autonomy, choice and self-advocacy is health literacy - the ability to find, understand, and use information to inform health-related decisions and actions. Having access to, and being able to understand health information is essential to Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Health literacy is directly linked to people’s ability to participate in decisions about healthcare and rehabilitation along the care continuum. People with disability face many health-related challenges which require a certain level of health literacy for optimum self-management and enhanced quality of life. Where a person has low levels of health literacy, access to health services occurs less frequently with the potential to negatively impact health outcomes.
This is why The Hopkins Centre is proud to introduce The Health Literacy in Rehabilitation (HLR) Project, this International Day of People with Disability. This Seed Grant-funded research project will support rehabilitation services in enhancing the health literacy of their service users with disability. Improved health literacy for PwD is likely to position them to better advocate for their health and rehabilitation needs. The HLR Project aligns with The Hopkins Centre Evidence-Based Practice and Community Intervention research program, focused on user-engagement, co-design and research translation to support people’s expression of choice and preference.
The project will aim to create and evaluate a toolkit that develops the knowledge and skills of rehabilitation clinicians, to support the health literacy of service users and those who support them. This toolkit will be informed by the experiences and preferences of people with lived experience of acquired disability and meet the diversity of needs. Through developing a health literacy toolkit creation process that can be transferred across rehabilitation services, this research has the potential to build effective and innovative services with a lasting impact on the capacity of people with disabilities to advocate and access services, and ultimately improve health outcomes.
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability – IDPwD
The Inclusive Voyage: Empowering People with Disabilities to Thrive in the Tourism and Hospitality Workforce
Researcher: Emily Lu
People with disability account for 1.3 billion individuals, representing 1 in 6 of the global population. With such a significant number worldwide, people with disability tend to experience higher levels of unemployment compared to people without disability. As such, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #8.5 promotes full labour participation of people with disability on an equal basis with others, highlighting their rights for the opportunities to achieve decent work.
Following this recognition, the tourism and hospitality sectors are embracing the untapped human resource group of people with disability to promote sustainable tourism, and to address the long-term labour shortage challenges which have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, existing studies in tourism and hospitality have predominantly focused on stigma and discrimination of people with disability’s employment from employers’ perspectives, however the research which explicitly articulates the unique strengths and capabilities of people with disability is notably absent from existing discourses.
In response to the identified research gaps, this PhD research underpinned by the social model of disability, focuses on unearthing the invaluable traits and conditions which enable people with disability to thrive in the workforce, if social barriers are minimised. Specifically, this research will explore the meaning of thriving, from the perspective of workers with disability in the tourism and hospitality sectors by participatory action research.
Please email Emily Lu at emily.lu2@griffithuni.edu.au if you would like to participate in, or know more about the research project.
The Hopkins Centre
Growing Assistive Technology Solutions in Queensland
Researchers: Professor Louise Gustafsson, Dr Camila Shirota, Dr Christy Hogan, Dr Tenelle Hodson & Michelle Bissett
International Day of People with Disability is a great time to reflect on the role communities and societies play in working towards social inclusion and equity for people with disability. This year’s theme ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with disabilities’ aligns with this recent research conducted at The Hopkins Centre.
In a project conducted with NIISQ Agency, The Hopkins Centre researchers have been working in partnership with people with disability to investigate assistive technology (AT) provision in Queensland. The needs and solutions to current AT provision were explored, with the aim of working towards improved AT provision as part of universal health coverage and iin line with the sustainable development goal of good health and well-being.
The project culminated in a solution-building workshop which identified eight priorities for action including roles for people with lived experience in the AT sector. The study identified a number of key pressure-points in the provision of ATs, across a diverse range of services and funding models:
a. There is a need for greater transparency and more information available from agencies, schemes, and suppliers.
b. There is an urgent need for capacity and capability development of service providers in Australia.
c. There is a need for improved access to assistive technology for trial and hire.
We are grateful to NIISQ Agency for providing the funding to support the Growing Assistive Technology Solutions in Queensland project to conduct research that aims to improve the health and quality of life outcomes for NIISQ participants.
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
LeagueAbility: Transforming Lives, Breaking Barriers, and Building Inclusive Futures in Disability Rugby
Researcher: Assoc. Professor Popi Sotiriadou, Associate Professor of Sport Management (SFHEA) "LeagueAbility" is a pioneering initiative led by the Gold Coast Titans, providing a unique platform for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities to engage in Physical Disability Rugby League.
Launched in 2018, the program aims to break down barriers to sports participation for people with disability, offering inclusive and accessible opportunities for them to participate in rugby league. Over the years, the program has witnessed remarkable growth, with a 425% increase in participant numbers. The initiative not only focuses on fostering physical activity but also emphasises the broader impact on participants' well-being, empowerment, and social inclusion.
Collaborative efforts with Griffith University and Playbk Sports underscore the commitment to expanding the program's reach, utilising technology to provide educational resources and creating a pathway for the establishment of a National Rugby League Competition for People with Disabilities. "LeagueAbility" is not just a sports program; it's a transformative force promoting inclusivity, community engagement, and a pathway for individuals with disabilities to fulfill their dreams.
The "LeagueAbility" research, led by A/Professor Popi Sotiriadou, is a collaborative effort between the Gold Coast Titans, Griffith University, and Playbk Sports, and stands at the intersection of inclusive sports, education, and technology, aligning with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing an exclusive Physical Disability Rugby League team and leveraging technology to create an online educational platform, the project directly addresses SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
The program's holistic impact is evident in the surveyed improvements across cognitive, human capital, and behavioural aspects, contributing to the well-being and empowerment of participants. Furthermore, the collaboration exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), aiming to attract support for the expansion of the program and establish sustainable practices. In essence, "LeagueAbility" serves as a beacon for the inclusive integration of persons with disability, embodying the broader vision of a more equitable, healthy, and connected society.
For more information please contact Popi at p.sotiriadou@griffith.edu.au
Click here to find out more.
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
Technology-Driven Inclusion: Empowering Employees with Disabilities in the Workplace
Researcher: Dr Maria Khan Dr Maria Khan is a research fellow in the Centre of Work, Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW), working with the Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability (IFRD) Beacon at Griffith University.
Utilising her background in technology and employee voice, she is researching how to create inclusion at work for people with disability (PwDs). Her current projects include investigating how information and communication technology (ICT) can facilitate the inclusion of neurodivergent employees. The research emphasises how ICTs can be leveraged to cater to neurodivergent employees’ specific needs, which can help foster an inclusive culture at work.
Her research also includes exploring factors affecting the employment lifecycle of young people with disability (YPwD), wherein she aims to identify barriers and facilitators for YPwD as they navigate their employment journey. She is also interested in examining opportunities and possible concerns of using artificial intelligence (AI) to include PwDs at work and prepare them for employment.
Her work is closely aligned with SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality, as it is focused on leveraging technology and giving a voice to an undervalued group in society, PWDs.
By proposing a technology-inclusion framework and highlighting pathways related to inclusive leadership and peer support, her research discusses ways to create more equitable workplace opportunities. In doing so, she aims to explore how best to develop decent workplaces that prioritise dignity and meaningful participation of employees with disability.
Please email Maria at maria.khan@griffith.edu.au if you would like to participate in, or know more
