Pathways to Participation

This project, conducted in partnership with DanceSyndrome, explores how people with learning disabilities can take an active role in shaping research methods that work best for them. Often, their voices are represented through proxies such as carers or family members, and they are rarely involved directly in decisions about how research is designed. This project aims to change that by positioning people with learning disabilities as co-creators, not just participants.

The project runs a series of creative workshops, each focused on a different method of expression – photovoice, visual art, poetry, dance and movement, and singing. Participants use these methods to explore two key questions about quality of life, reflecting on how each approach helps them share their perspectives.

Pathways to participation ultimately seeks to put people with learning disabilities at the centre of research by prioritising choice, reflection, and creative experimentation. The project aims to strengthen participants’ sense of ownership and agency, while providing researchers with practical insights into methodological decision-making.