Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study explored the lived experience of female disabled staff working as academics or within the professional services at an English University. It adopted a sequential, mixed methods approach. First, statistical data pertaining to disabled staff (and students) at the University was analysed. Semi-structured online questionnaires explored the lived experiences of twenty-six academic and professional services staff. Fifteen online semi-structured interviews examined experiences more deeply. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, with four themes established - the risk of disclosure, stoppers to seniority, action over policy and the line manager lottery. In reflecting sector trends disabled staff were found to be under-represented. Sharing an impairment could act as a ‘stopper’ to career progression, whilst the intersection with gender created layers of discrimination and impacted horizontal and vertical movement. Underpinned by the Affirmation Model recommendations ranged from flexible working practices to line manager training and disability leave.
Source: Disability & Society
Author: Melanie Best
Institution: University of Wolverhampton
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411020751