School of Sociology and Social Policy

‘The Hardest Hit’: Disability research and welfare reform - an early career/postgraduate policy symposium

20 September 2012 | 09:30h - 16:45h | Conference

Liberty Building, G29 and G32

On 20th September 2012, over forty people came together to discuss issues around disability research and welfare reform. Initially aimed at postgraduate and early career researchers, the event also attracted practitioners and welfare rights advisers working at the front line, as well as more experienced academics.

Starting with a keynote presentation from Professor Paul Gregg (University of Bath), the day featured ten paper presentations from postgraduate and early career researchers. All were connected in some way to the broad theme of disability research and welfare reform and all brought new knowledge and insight.

Debate and discussion was lively, and was much aided by the input of two invited 'critical friends': Professor Roy Sainsbury (University of York) and Colin Lindsay (University of Strathclyde).

Below are details of the papers presented, links to powerpoint presentations and audio recordings where available, and write-ups/interviews connected to the day.

This event was supported by the Social Policy Association.

Presentations and write-ups

Ruth Patrick wrote an account of the day for Disability Now while the keynote address by Paul Gregg is the subject of a blog by Ben Baumberg on Inequalities

One of the presenters, Kayleigh Garthwaite, also discussed her research on the BBC Radio 4 programme Thinking Allowed, which you can download here; Kayleigh wrote about her research and reactions to her radio appearance on Inequalities 

Please click on a link below to access the associated PowerPoint presentation or audio files.  There are audio files for most of the presentations.  They can be found on Ben Baumberg's personal webiste which can be accessed by clicking here.

Keynote Speech

Paul Gregg, ‘Disability, employment and welfare reform’ Slides

Paper session 1

Chair: Ben Baumberg

Kayleigh Garthwaite – “Fear of the brown envelope: sickness benefits recipients and welfare reform” Slides

Jenny Ceolta-Smith – “Supporting benefit recipients' health and wellbeing: A role for the Personal Adviser?”Slides

Dan Heap – “Integrating and mainstreaming disabled benefit claimants into the 'active' UK welfare state”Slides

Lead Respondent: Roy Sainsbury - University of York

Paper session two – parallel papers

Stream 1

Chair: Ben Baumberg

Vicky Byrne & Libby McEnhill – “‘Beat the Cheat”: Justifying Disability Benefit Reform’ Slides

Larry Arnold – ‘If you are not normal you don't exist: the denial of disability in the coalition government’

Lead Respondent: Colin Lindsay - University of Strathclyde

Stream 2

Chair: Ruth Patrick

Jackie King-Owen & Derrick Skinner –'The cumulative impact of the cuts on people with learning difficulties - real-life case studies'

Armineh Soorenian – ‘Economic Austerity and disabled women’ Slides

Lead Respondent: Roy Sainsbury - University of York

Paper session three

Chair: Ruth Patrick

Liz Tilly – ‘Making Ends Meet; exploring social capital and poverty in the lives of people with a learning disability who live without support’  Slides

Claire Preston – “Online Collective Action Against Disability Benefits Cuts: the grassroots response to a green paper”  Slides

David Frayne – ‘Self-care and the Refusal of Work’ Slides

Lead respondent: Colin Lindsay - University of Strathclyde

Closing reflections with Paul Gregg, Colin Lindsay & Roy Sainsbury