Disability Matters
Discover Disability Matters at UNSW, a global project advancing inclusive research, coproduction methods and disability-led health priorities.
Historically, people with disabilities and their carers have often been excluded from academic research about their own health priorities. This project aims to change that.
We use a co-production approach, working with people with disability as researchers. They play an active role in shaping the knowledge we create.
About Disability Matters
Disability Matters is a large multinational project with partners in Canada, India, Singapore, the UK and Australia. UNSW Sydney is proud to represent Australia in this international research collaboration.
By being inclusive from the very beginning, the project aims to ensure that research reflects what truly matters to people with disability.
At the heart of this work are the lived experiences of people with disability.
We use inclusive research methods, which means every stage, from project inception to design and implementation, is done in partnership with people with disability. Their expertise and lived experience guide everything we do.
Meet our people
Dr Jodi Lamanna
Lead Investigator
Jodi is a researcher for the UNSW phase of the Disability Matters project and is leading much of the data collection and analysis. She has expertise in disability, equity and education. Jodi brings more than 10 years of experience in research roles. She has also worked in policy and systemic advocacy with Disability Representative Organisations in Australia.
Professor Jackie Leach Scully
Program Lead
Jackie is the chief investigator for the UNSW arm of this international project, liaising with international partners and supervising Dr Jodi Lamanna’s work in data collection and analysis. She has expertise in the ethical and social dimensions of biomedical advances, specialising in disability bioethics. Her overarching research focuses on the impact of innovations in healthcare technologies and practices on people with disability, their families and communities.
Kate Vartuli
Project Officer
Our work is supported by Project Officer Kate Vartuli, who helps coordinate the project and ensures the team can deliver the program's objectives.
Upcoming events
Workshops
Over the course of this project, we'll hold six workshops.
The workshops will cover topics such as preferred methodologies, inclusive practices, best practice in participatory and inclusive research, co‑producing health research, and ongoing impact. As the research is inclusive and participatory, these topics may change as the project progresses.
Each workshop will be tailored to the specific group we're engaging with.
All workshops will be accessible, with options for Auslan interpreters, closed captioning and Easy Read documentation. You’re welcome to bring along a support person or carer if you prefer.
Participation in the workshops is voluntary and all information shared will be treated confidentially. If you're interested in taking part, please review the Participant Information document and consent form.
At the conclusion of each workshop, we’ll publish initial findings online. After all six workshops are complete and the data has been analysed, we’ll produce a formal report outlining the overarching themes that emerged from the research.
If you’d like to participate, please complete the expression of interest form, and we will notify you when the workshops begin.
If you're unable to access the online form, you can email k.vartuli@unsw.edu.au.
Contact us
If you have any feedback, questions or queries, our team is ready to help you.