Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research

Informed by critical disability studies and disability justice, this article describes the reflections of two university researchers co-researching with self-advocates (individuals with intellectual disability), theatre artists, researchers, and a community living society to create social justice di...

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Main Authors: Rachelle D. Hole, Leyton Schnellert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/116
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author Rachelle D. Hole
Leyton Schnellert
author_facet Rachelle D. Hole
Leyton Schnellert
author_sort Rachelle D. Hole
collection DOAJ
description Informed by critical disability studies and disability justice, this article describes the reflections of two university researchers co-researching with self-advocates (individuals with intellectual disability), theatre artists, researchers, and a community living society to create social justice disability theatre as critical participatory research (CPAR), demonstrating how disability theatre can contribute to and advance inclusive research practice. Disability justice-informed theatre as CPAR has direct relevance to people with intellectual disabilities; offers a platform where self-advocates’ diverse ways to communicate and be in the world are honoured and taken up as resources to the research and community; and can generate mentorship opportunities for self-advocates to learn, practice, and develop research skills. Significances include showing how the theatre creation process (devising, developing, and refining scenes) is research in itself and how tensions are recognized as sites of possibility. Future research should explore how increasing pathways to communication, co-creation of KT strategies, and protocols for power sharing and problem solving within disability theatre as CPAR impact the roles, outcomes, and experiences of disabled and non-disabled researchers and audience members.
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spelling doaj.art-14c9476d08494c2f8f8136eb130e2cec2024-02-23T15:34:39ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602024-02-0113211610.3390/socsci13020116Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive ResearchRachelle D. Hole0Leyton Schnellert1Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaCanadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaInformed by critical disability studies and disability justice, this article describes the reflections of two university researchers co-researching with self-advocates (individuals with intellectual disability), theatre artists, researchers, and a community living society to create social justice disability theatre as critical participatory research (CPAR), demonstrating how disability theatre can contribute to and advance inclusive research practice. Disability justice-informed theatre as CPAR has direct relevance to people with intellectual disabilities; offers a platform where self-advocates’ diverse ways to communicate and be in the world are honoured and taken up as resources to the research and community; and can generate mentorship opportunities for self-advocates to learn, practice, and develop research skills. Significances include showing how the theatre creation process (devising, developing, and refining scenes) is research in itself and how tensions are recognized as sites of possibility. Future research should explore how increasing pathways to communication, co-creation of KT strategies, and protocols for power sharing and problem solving within disability theatre as CPAR impact the roles, outcomes, and experiences of disabled and non-disabled researchers and audience members.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/116inclusive researchdisability theatredevised theatreintellectual disabilitycritical participatory action research
spellingShingle Rachelle D. Hole
Leyton Schnellert
Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
Social Sciences
inclusive research
disability theatre
devised theatre
intellectual disability
critical participatory action research
title Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
title_full Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
title_fullStr Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
title_full_unstemmed Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
title_short Disability Theatre as Critical Participatory Action Research: Lessons for Inclusive Research
title_sort disability theatre as critical participatory action research lessons for inclusive research
topic inclusive research
disability theatre
devised theatre
intellectual disability
critical participatory action research
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/116
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AT leytonschnellert disabilitytheatreascriticalparticipatoryactionresearchlessonsforinclusiveresearch