Centre for Disability Studies joins WHO Health Equity Network
In October, the Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) achieved an important milestone: our successful application to join the World Health Organisation (WHO) Disability Health Equity Network.
CDS, a Faculty of Social Sciences Centre, brings together scholars from across the University in a shared commitment to advancing disability justice. It was the first University-based research centre for disability studies in the UK.
Since 1990, our approach to research and education has been grounded in a social interpretation of disability. This perspective recognises that disability is a form of oppression resulting from the interaction between impairments and attitudinal or environmental barriers, which hinders full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
Our mission is to generate research and deliver education that contributes meaningfully to social inclusion and equality for disabled people locally, nationally and globally. Membership in the WHO Network strengthens this mission, expanding the audiences and partnerships through which our work can make a difference.
Shaping global health equity
The WHO Disability Health Equity Network is a new global platform that unites stakeholders from governments, civil society, academia and international organisations to build disability-inclusive health systems. Its formation is a response to the continued profound inequities in health access, outcomes and participation experienced by disabled people worldwide. Addressing these inequities requires coordinated, cross-sector action rather than isolated initiatives.
For CDS, joining the network offers an opportunity to bring disability studies perspectives directly into global discussions about health equity. This is important because disability studies have long highlighted that the injustices disabled people face in health systems are not inevitable but structural.
They reflect a combination of inaccessible environments, discriminatory attitudes and policies, and a lack of meaningful involvement of disabled people in decision-making. From a disability studies perspective, the network also matters because it is attentive not just to improving services, but to transforming systems.
The WHO Network seeks to address these structural issues. It operates through four workstreams:
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Build leadership on health equity among persons with disabilities;
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elevate health equity for persons with disabilities as a political priority in health;
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create a disability inclusive health sector; and
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establish robust indicators, evidence and monitoring.
These align closely with CDS’ commitment to rights-based, participatory research. Being part of this initiative allows CDS to shape emerging global emancipatory agendas that centre the lived experiences of disabled people.
Get involved
Membership also creates new opportunities for colleagues and postgraduate researchers across the University. Because CDS is interdisciplinary, colleagues from any school or faculty may join if their work aligns with the centre’s mission. We are particularly keen to hear from PhD students and early-career researchers.
CDS hosts an active postgraduate researcher (PGR) community that provides peer-to-peer support, interdisciplinary discussion, and opportunities to share research in a supportive environment. PGRs can present their work to international audiences, contribute to emerging WHO workstreams, and connect with global partners. It also increases the visibility of their research across the centre, which can help spark new collaborations between scholars working in complementary areas.
Beyond individual engagement, this membership strengthens CDS as an institutional hub. It enables us to build new partnerships, contribute to more international research projects, and ensure that the University remains a leader in disability studies and disability-inclusive research.
It also aligns with broader University priorities around equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), global engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. Members of CDS are united by their commitment to realising equality and justice for disabled people worldwide. If your research relates to disability, health and/or health policy, please get in touch with the CDS to discuss how your work might contribute to the WHO Network and the centre more broadly.
About the authors
Dr Amy M. Russell is an Associate Professor of Health Inequalities at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences. Her research explores how research and health services can be made more inclusive for historically marginalised groups.
Dr Claudia Coveney is a Lecturer in the School of Sociology and Social Policy. She is interested in governance, especially disabled people’s movements, civil society, and collective action. Her work examines sites of policy influence and inclusion, particularly in relation to disability equality. She is a member of the Centre for Disability Studies’ executive committee.
