School of Sociology and Social Policy

The Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) is the mainstay of disability studies at the University of Leeds. Although the majority of researchers are based in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, CDS brings together staff and postgraduate students with an interest in disability studies from across the University.

CDS has a distinguished history of theoretical scholarship of international standing. Staff at Leeds, under the Directorship of Colin Barnes, have pioneered social model approaches in which disability is characterised as a form of institutional discrimination and social exclusion, rather than a product of physical differences between individuals.

Researchers are involved in a range of empirical projects of high user engagement. 'Real life' methods on disabled people's careers, user-led support services, comparative social policy, citizenship and social movements are strengths. The Centre has a strong commitment to participatory methods that include research participants and democratic organisations controlled by disabled people in the production and dissemination of research.

The Centre is well networked with disabled people and policy stakeholders, across the voluntary sector, in local and national government, and in international organisations. Members of the Centre are actively engaged in developing Disability Studies internationally and have acted as advisors on the establishment of research centres in Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.