CE-WIL is pleased to recognize Robin Metcalfe, a masters of social work student at UBC-O who has won an honourable mention for her story about creating a multimedia resource for health researchers to be more inclusive of deaf and disabled folks in research. Robin worked closely with her supervisor, Dr. Rachelle Hole, Associate Professor and co-director at the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship.
The story Robin submitted was:
The project I contributed to is a multimedia resource that supports health researchers to engage people with disabilities as participants and co-researchers in health research. Deaf and disabled people have largely been excluded from participation in research, which has resulted in a lack of understanding about health experience and a lack of knowledge from which to draw in addressing health needs of Deaf and disabled folks. This project uplifts the value of supported, meaningful engagement in deciding research priorities, co-creating knowledge with researchers as partners, and identifying ways to mobilise that knowledge and make it accessible. The project leadership reflects these priorities; disabled and Deaf health sector, university, and community partners have collaborated to make digital animations, and there could not be a better learning experience than seeing and participating in a team that models the values and imperatives of inclusion this project envisions.
Meet Robin & Dr. Hole
When asked about the impact of the project in light of the pandemicRobin notes “ We were actually experiencing some of the direct impacts of the lack of inclusion of deaf and disabled folks in health research and health decision making. So in the course of the pandemic unfolding here and the kind of responses that were taking place here and in real time around us it was clear that deaf and disabled folks weren’t being included.”
The project created modules on topics about the importance of culture and language, the history of deafness in North America and how to be an ally and partner with the deaf community.
Congratulations Robin Metcalfe & Dr. Rachelle Hole!
Read & watch the other IMPACT 2020 Stories
If you’re an ACE-WIL Member, you can also view all 70 story submissions on the project page: