Dr Andrea Hollomotz

Profile

My work focuses on the sociological study of disability and interpersonal violence, and I work with those who have committed, as well as experienced violence. I understand that these are at times overlapping populations and I aspire towards a deeper understanding of the needs of those who have been hurt and those who hurt others. I also aim to inspire upstream thinking about social change that can help to reduce disabled people’s increased risk to experience and/or commit interpersonal violence.

I am currently writing up findings relating to a project on disability and sexual violence. We have published a report on the victim support needs and experiences of disabled adult victim-survivors of rape and sexual violence. You can access the final report here. There is also an Easy Read version. There is a forthcoming report on disabled people’s experiences of reporting sexual violence to the police, as well as a forthcoming monograph.

I am also currently involved with the MS Domestic Violence and Abuse Research Initiative, which explores the nature and prevalence of Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and aims to strengthen the evidence base for healthcare professionals to be able to recognise and respond to the signs of DVA.

Research interests

My PhD focussed on learning disabilities and sexual ‘vulnerability’. I have argued that the way we often treat people with learning disabilities strips them of autonomy and life and learning experiences that would enable them to become better equipped at identifying (sexual) intrusions and initiating their own safeguarding.

Hereafter I conducted an ESRC funded project on people with learning disabilities who have sexually offended. Most of these individuals have themselves been severely traumatised in earlier life, long before they started hurting others. My aspiration is to enable a deeper understanding of the needs of those who have been hurt and those who hurt others. I also aim to inspire upstream thinking about social change that can help to reduce disabled people’s increased risk to experience or commit interpersonal violence. A briefing paper about planning services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism who sexually offend can be accessed here.

In 2021-22 I have been working on a review of the evidence based on the lived experience of disabled people in the UK for the Cabinet Office’s Disability Unit with Prof Mark Priestley and in partnership with Disability Rights UK.

PhD Supervision

I am interested in supervising students in a broad range of topics. My expertise lies with disability studies, sexual and interpersonal violence, sex and sexuality and inclusive and creative research methods. I am currently at capacity and will only consider applications from exceptional candidates close to my own research interests.

• Access to Justice for Children with Mental Disabilities
• Disabled women’s experiences of reporting sexual violence to the police
• EQUITY MS
• MS and Domestic Violence and Abuse Research Initiative
• Qualitative research to understand the support needs of disabled adult rape victims

Student education

I am Deputy Director for Research and Innovation (DDoRI) in SSP.

My teaching focusses mostly on research methods, a topic I feel very passionate about, as I have to be imaginative in my approach to research methods and methodology, considering my work focusses on exploring “sensitive” topics with marginalised respondent groups. I am passionate about passing this knowledge on to our students through undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

I am module leader for OSSP5204M Doing Disability Research and joined module leader for SLSP2011 Sociology and Social Policy Research Methods. I also contribute to SLSP1171 Understanding and Researching Contemporary Society.

Research groups and institutes

• Centre for Disability Studies

Current postgraduate researchers

• Danielle Tomkins
• Chong Liu
• Tabitha Fuster-Burnett
• Kharis Hutchison
• Ruth Austin
• Kelsey Tredgett
• Johanna Knebel