On 26th November, the Doctoral College hosted 'Disability Research at Loughborough'. Staff and students from all Schools and Professional Services were welcome, and over 100 registered to attend!

The event, sponsored by a Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, showcased outstanding disability (physical and mental) research at the University.

Doctoral researchers Amber Guest, Kim Hutton, Simon Briley, Lesley Sharpe, Chloe Blackwell, Eva Rodgers, Victor Jeganathan and Tigmanshu Bhatnagar gave thought provoking and inspiring talks that explored a wide variety of topics including families raising children with autism, breaking down exclusion barriers, physical activity in a secure psychiatric hospital, mental health of truckers, and shoulder pain in wheelchair athletes. 

There was also the opportunity for attendees to hear about disability support available to staff and students at Loughborough University and the Global Disability Innovation Hub.

Prior to the event, it's organiser and VC Award recipient Dr Katryna Kalawsky commented: “This new multi-disciplinary event will shine the spotlight on excellent doctoral research whilst celebrating and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion – something of utmost importance to Loughborough University.”

Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development also said: “As the University’s Champion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – I’m delighted to learn more about a number of topics in the disability space from our doctoral researchers.  What our research tells us will help shape the inclusive environment and culture that Loughborough prides itself on and inform our thinking for the future”.

Vice-Chancellor Robert Allison added: "Loughborough University works hard to be a welcoming, inclusive and diverse community. Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are prestigious and I am delighted to see that Dr Kalawsky has used this opportunity to showcase some of the outstanding work that we have to support people with disabilities, their families and friends."