Project updates

We will be using this page to offer regular updates on the progress of WAARC  alongside refreshing our Anti-Ableist resources and Emerging Headlines 

May 2026

• The WAARC team continues to finalise recommendations and the final report - with August 2026 as our final deadline. 
• We have also developed a proactive and anti-ableist approach to Open Data deposited on the Reshare UK Data Archive Service. Our approach to sharing data, research materials and findings reflects our anti-ableist philosophy.  As we state in one of the compulsory read documents of our deposit: "our deposit from the Wellcome Anti-Ableist Research Culture (WAARC) emerged from a two year funded project between May 2024 and April 2026.  This document provides the essential contextual background for anyone thinking of using our archive. This document should be read before accessing any of the data."

• We follow the advice of Prosser et al ‘data is deposited with a clear audit trail, reflexivity statement and overarching narrative that encourages the user to read and understand the data in terms of a time and place’ (Prosser et al, 2023).  Moreover, as critical disability studies researchers we are keen to ensure that research improves the lives of disabled people; as fellow subjects in the driving of research knowledge.  We oppose research that treats disabled people as merely objects of research and instead share our research materials and data in this deposit with the express aim of improving the working lives of disabled researchers and professional services colleagues in the university sector. Our deposit priorities emergent findings and recommendations reporting on our empirical, public engagement, participatory, knowledge exchange and impact work across four Phases. PIS and Consent forms relating to the distinct phases are available on request (see contact below).  

• In order to authentically engage with the materials deposited in relation to the WAARC project we ask all users of the materials to follow these strict guidelines. 

  • Before accessing any materials please read all the background documents in the ‘Phase 0 - over-arching project documents’ folder - this necessarily contextualises the materials we share in this deposit

  • If you intend to use the materials ask yourself the following questions:

    • In what ways will my use of the materials from the WAARC project improve the working conditions of disabled researchers and professional services colleagues in my university or organisation?

    • In what ways does my understanding of disability align with the perspectives of disabled people who understand disability as a human experience often marked by oppression and discrimination but also by possibility, opportunity, innovation and hope?

    • How might I draw on the materials from the WAARC project to feed into a wider project of research collaboration with rather than on disabled people?

    • To what extent does my use of the WAARC materials feed into a wider project of research collaboration with disabled people instead of extractive research about disabled people?

    • If you do use the materials please let us know - by contacting Professor Dan Goodley d.goodley@sheffield.ac.uk

References  - Prosser AMB, Hamshaw RJT, Meyer J, Bagnall R, Blackwood L, Huysamen M, Jordan A, Vasileiou K, Walter Z. (2023). When open data closes the door: A critical examination of the past, present and the potential future for open data guidelines in journals. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62(4),  1635-1653. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12576. Epub 2022 Sep 8. PMID: 36076340; PMCID: PMC10946880.

Presentations and conferences

• Elinor Noble (WAARC Project Coordinator) and Rhea Halsey (Disability Matters Programme Manager) presented on behalf of the PM Network on 'Making Project Delivery more inclusive' on 13th May 2026

• Liz Dew (WAARC Project Coordinator) attended the 'Politics of Research Culture' event held in Leeds  on 5th May. 

April 2026

• Armineh Soorenian and Liz Dew presented at the NCRC Conversation Series on 'Reimagining Research Culture, Together' on 23rd April. 
• Members of the WAARC team attended the  Leeds Centre for Disability Studies Conference 2026 on 13-16th April. Dr Kirsty Liddiard gave a Keynote, and WAARC and iHuman researchers presented at other sessions. A blog on the amazing contributions is coming soon! 
• Armineh Soorenian presented at three sessions of the Leeds Centre for Disability Studies Conference, in collaboration with our partners - NASDN and Pathfinders. 
• Here's a link to our 'Cripping Research Culture' final podcast produced and hosted by Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril  - all 8 podcasts, with BSL translations and transcripts.  
• Élaina has had her article on Podcasting as a Recreational Scholarship Praxis published in Hypatia and has attended the Canadian Association for Humanities Conference #CreateSpace16! in April.
• Sophie Phillips chaired our WAARC online Collaborative Festival on Monday 20th April, where our four collaborative projects shared and celebrated their work. 

March 2026

• Members of the WAARC team will be joining the Wellcome Institutional Research Culture Community event on 18 and 19 March 2026, sharing their research through talks and facilitated sessions.
• Our final 'Dreaming up a Disability Inclusive Workplace' was held on 25th March, on Inclusive Recruitment and Hacking Bureaucracy with Tam Gilbert and Ian Abbott of Extant, the UK’s leading professional performing arts company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences. Extant is currently undergoing a major structural overhaul and its directors agreed to share their insights on that process with us.

February 2026

• Dreaming up a Disability Inclusive Workplace webinar - 25th February 12-1.30 p.m, held a session facilitated by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan a writer and producer that has worked with organisations like the Barbican, the Southbank Centre, CRIPtic Arts, and UK Black Pride. This session was on 'Self-advocacy at Work and Navigating Uncertainty'.
• Here's a link to our 'Cripping Research Culture' podcast - you can listen to our 6th episode, and a milestone of a total of 250 streams and downloads reached on 26th February. 
• Our four funded Collaborative Projects activities are ongoing - and are preparing to showcase their projects at the WAARC Online Collaborative Projects Festival on 20th April - you can book a ticket to find out more! 
• Elinor Noble (WAARC Project Coordinator) and Rhea Halsey (Disability Matters Programme Manager) presented on the projects and on how to make projects more accessible to the University of Sheffield Project Manager Network.
• Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril - led a session for University of Sheffield PGRs and staff on "Podcasting as a Creative Research Method" -  3 February 2026

January 2026

• Dreaming up a Disability Inclusive Workplace webinar - 28th January, 12-1.30 p.m. held a session facilitated by Deepa Shastri on how to hold our organisations accountable when it comes to disability access towards staff.  Our next webinar 'Self Advocacy at Work & Navigating Uncertainty' is on Wednesday 25th February - find out more and book at our events page 
• Here's a link to our 'Cripping Research Culture' podcast - another episode went live in January!  You can listen to it on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
• Our four funded Collaborative Projects met together again and shared exciting news about how the projects are going. 
• Shelley Tremain Interviews Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril in an article for Biopolitical Philosopy Disability Dialogues  - 21 January 2026

December 2025

• WAARC and Humanising Healthcare hosted 'Humanising the System' event on 3rd December 2025 to launch the Humanising Healthcare Manifesto. 

November 2025

• Our four funded Collaborative Projects met together and shared exciting news about their projects. 
• Armineh (with Liz) presented a Lightning talk on 19 November 2025 - ESRC research project symposium: Amplifying the mental health of Black university students: A Black, Mad and Disability Studies intersectional inquiry. 

October 2025

• Dan Goodley and Rebecca Lawthom were interviewed by colleagues in the White Rose University Consortium about the WAARC project which appeared today (1st October) on the consortium's website
• We held an internal 'Cripping the Concordat' exciting gameshow style event with postgraduate and early career researchers.
• Our 'Dreaming up a Disability Inclusive Workplace' webinar series began on 29th October. Topics were chosen by surveying members of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) and we've curated workshops and talks from disabled professionals from a variety of backgrounds and industries. More webinars are coming in 2026!
• Here's a link to our 'Cripping Research Culture' podcast - which started streaming in October! You can listen to it on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

September 2025

We are delighted to be joined by Nikita Hayden who will be working with Lauren White on the Developments priority area of WAARC and Elinor Noble who joins as our new Project Coordinator working alongside Liz Dew and the WAARC team.