Leeds Disability Studies Conference 3-5 September 2024: Reflections from postgraduate researchers

Postgraduate Research students Johanna Knebel and Ruby Goodley, both members of the Centre for Disability Studies, offer their reflections below on the 2024 Leeds Disability Studies Conference.

From 3 to 5 September the Leeds Disability Studies Conference took place with 312 in person and 146 online delegates from 51 countries. 

The conference was framed by an impressive line-up of (inter-)national conference keynote speeches, opened by Dr Marie Sepulchre (Lund University, Sweden) encouraging us to ‘[Recentre] freedom in our work for disability rights and justice’. This was followed by the keynote of the founder of Birmingham Disability Rights Group, Bob Williams-Findlay on ‘The present and future of disability politics’ and a speech by Dr Miro Griffiths (University of Leeds, UK) on ‘Resistance Practices and Imaginations: Young Disabled People's Participation in Disability Activism Across Europe’. Finally, Dr Sami Schalk (University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.) gave a stimulating concluding keynote on Black Disability Politics. As one conference attendee reflected, “The diversity of the keynotes was well-rounded with great speakers”.   

 

Breadth of research

Alongside an amalgamation of timely, important and impressive scholarly keynote speakers, the conference consisted of six separate thematic sessions with each included up to 16 panels and symposiums. Conference attendees were inundated with choice with a breadth of current disability studies research that spread from topics such as inclusive education, health, co-productive research with people with learning difficulties, sexuality and disability, the experiences of disabled academics and so much more!  One delegate said, “As a part-time PhD student trying to get to grips with the requirements, the conference triggered a light bulb moment in understanding more about the direction I need to go in”.

 

Remote access supported

To navigate the breadth of choice, the Leeds Disability Studies Conference also, for the first time, used the app Whova which allowed speakers and attendees to create their own conference agenda through choosing the panels they wanted to attend. The app also gave people the opportunity to connect with other conference attendees beforehand and organise meet ups during the conference. Many people praised the app, one conference speaker told the organising team, “the Whova app was a brilliant addition to the conference and allowed me to plan my itinerary in advance. It allowed me to be organised and get to the presentations which were relevant to my area of interest but while also being aware of what else was going on”. 

Conference attendees were granted access to this app for three months following the conference; they could download speakers' presentation slides, scrips and resources – this opportunity allowed people to reflect and revisit stimulating parts of the conference. The app also allowed presenters to pre-record their presentations and connect with people in the online space. Many people commended this online part of the conference as it allowed people who were not able to attend the conference in person to still participate in a prestigious scholarly space. One delegate said, “Thank you for all the time and effort and for giving those of us who – for various reasons – could not make it to Leeds in person the opportunity to join remotely”. Despite inducing at times feelings of being overwhelmed due to the abundance of available information and resources, the conference app overall facilitated access to a great variety of resources and was a welcoming addition. 

Inclusive and accessible space

Particularly early career researchers highlighted the overall welcoming and inclusive feeling, with many having the opportunity to create networks and connections with scholars from across the globe. One conference goer said the conference, “curated a wonderful space – inclusive and accessible and intellectual”. There was also an acute attention to accessibility throughout the conference: the offered conference accommodation was only a five-minute walk to the conference space, people had live captions turned on throughout their presentations, the conference rooms were wheelchair accessible and fitted with hearing induction loops, and quiet spaces were available for people to retreat to during the conference. This attention to access contributed to creating a welcoming space for all researchers. However, as with many other academic spaces, the absence of researchers with learning difficulties, early career/ postgraduate researchers with lack of funding and disabled activists in civil society must be noted. We can do better in ensuring access for those who do not have the financial and institutional resources to attend such prestigious and costly events.  

Centre for Disability Studies

The Centre for Disability Studies has taken a pioneering role both nationally and internationally in disability studies. Members are united by their commitment to carrying out research and teaching that helps to achieve equality and social justice for disabled people, globally. To find out more, please visit their website.