The University of Sheffiled has done some research to look at the hopes, dreams and lives of young people who might not life as long as other people because of disabilities. Children and young people worked as co-researchers, the project is a space where disabled children and young people can tell new stories of disability; their own stories.

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Why the research was needed

‘Quite often, people think that disabled children and young people live tragic, sad and unhappy lives without opportunities for play, socialising and friendships. By using art, this project offered opportunities for disabled children and young people with life limiting and life threatening impairments. to speak about their lives in “new” ways: as joyful, creative, fun, challenging, but ultimately liveable, just like anyone else.’  

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 The Research aimed to:

1. Work in partnership with disabled children and young people with life limiting and life threatening impairments.

2. To show the hopes, dreams and lives of disabled children, young people and gheir families who might not life as long as other people because of disabilities.

3. To ask disabled children, young people and young people who might not life as long as other people because of disabilities big questions: What are your ambitions? What would you like to do with your life? What contributions do you make? How are these contributions shaped?

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More information can be found by following this link: https://livinglifetothefullesttoolkit.com/

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On the website you can find:

• Methods to work ethically with disabled young people as researchers and research leaders.

• Free downloadable resources to help you build your own project with disabled children and young people.

• Access to films, podcasts and other media resources co-created with disabled young people.

• Open access to our project publications and journal articles.

 

As with all our resources, this link may also useful for supporting training to health and social care workers and for children and young people with these conditions and their families to strengthen their voice.

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