School of Sociology and Social Policy

Anne-Marie Moore

PhD Studentship: 'Together Through Play' Project | 2011 - 2014

About me
I have a masters in Design Studies from Central St Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, and a degree in Graphic Arts from the Liverpool School of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University.

I taught previously at the Q3 Academy, Birmingham, after qualifying with a PGCE in Secondary Design and Technology at the University of Cambridge.

I have several years’ design industry experience in Graphic Design, Illustration and New Product Development, and my portfolio includes work for a diversity of clients ranging from the National Army Museum to the Arctic Monkeys.

I am currently working as Principal Investigator on ‘Together Through Play Project: Facilitating Meaningful Play Between Disabled and Non-disabled Children', which is a research project funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

My motivation
I am keen to be continually learning and further enhancing my skills, and I was motivated by the opportunity to take part in the PhD studentship advertised by Dr Angharad Beckett and Dr Raymond Holt at the University of Leeds.

Working with children and young people has always been a worthwhile and rewarding experience for me, and I am confident that over six years’ industry experience in Design and New Product Development has equipped me with the relevant skills, and the professional aptitudes to work progressively in the field of Inclusive Play.

My passion
I am passionate about design, and I aim to make a positive contribution to the development of new resources that will encourage meaningful play between disabled and non-disabled children.

It is exciting to work alongside experts in both the social sciences and product design, and our trans-disciplinary approach brings innovation to the field of Inclusive Play. There is great scope for progression in this under-researched area, and I hope to use my skills and experience to develop understanding of children’s aspirations for playing together, in order to create solutions to existing barriers.

The project
The Together Through Play research project began on 1 January 2011, and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

The purpose of the Together Through Play project is to develop understanding of children’s needs and aspirations for inclusive play. This will be a piece of action research (Reason and Bradbury, 2001) that explores ways to facilitate meaningful play between disabled and non-disabled children, through a process of contextual inquiry and participatory design.

This project represents the first attempt to understand disabled and non-disabled children’s aspirations for playing together and how the design of toys and games can support or hinder this.

The research builds upon aspects of previous work undertaken by researchers in the fields of Inclusive Design (Weightman et al, 2009) and Inclusive Education (Beckett, 2009), to further develop understanding of the social and emotional aspects of play, which have the potential to foster positive interactions between disabled and non-disabled children.

My time at Leeds
My experience at the University has been extremely positive so far. My supervisors have been very supportive and I have benefitted from the opportunity to engage in a range of courses and seminars, including MA Disability Studies modules and Ethics training, in order to further enhance my understanding of the complex issues surrounding Inclusive Play.

I am very impressed with the learning and research facilities available at the School of Sociology and Social Policy. The Centre for Disability Studies offers a superb archive with links to further reading, and a wealth of resources are available at the library.

The research environment
The School offers an excellent research environment, which is enriched by a diversity of students from various backgrounds and disciplines. I meet my Supervisors on a regular basis, and they are generous with their guidance and support.

The School has a well structured programme in place to ensure that students are able to maximise their learning opportunities, and achieve success in their studies.

I would highly recommend the School of Sociology and Social Policy to someone considering undertaking a research degree here.

Outside of study
Outside of studying, I like to keep fit by running and training regularly, and I like to travel. I will be on placement as Director of Art and Craft at the NYC YMCA Summer Camp in Greater New York, USA, this summer, and in my free time, I regularly travel to other cities across the UK for exhibitions, festivals and race meetings.

Over the Easter break, I will be running for the university at the Isle of Man, and I will be racing my first Half Marathon in Leeds on 9th May.

City life
I am very impressed with Leeds so far. The vibrant city centre is conveniently within walking distance of the university, and there’s lots to explore in the local area. The range of public transport services available makes visiting the city’s shopping centres, galleries, bars and restaurants both affordable and accessible to students. The surrounding countryside areas and canal links are fantastic for cycling and running, and for escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.
 
My future
Once I have completed my PhD, I would like to continue to work in academia, and to pursue opportunities to help children and young people in the field of Education in the future.

Moving forward, I aim to use my skills and experience to further enhance Inclusive Design and Inclusive Education, and to work progressively in the field of Inclusive Play.
 

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