Inclusive Arts & Meaningful Engagement for Adults with PMLD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How can adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) participating in inclusive arts workshops inform an understanding of meaningful engagement in this context?
IRAS ID
147350
Contact name
Melaneia Warwick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Research summary
The research is based on a series of inclusive arts workshops. Participation on the research project will be by adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) attending Portsmouth City Council Day Service at their New Road Centre. Staff working with these adults will also be invited to take part in the project.
There will be 2 inclusive arts courses run over 2 years. In each one up to 7 participants will be invited to attend 20 workshops, each 2 hours in length. There will be a new cohort for each course. During these workshops participants will experiment with a range of art materials, being supported to make their own choices about these such as their preferred textures and colours. Through these choices participants will create finished pieces of work that will later be exhibited to a wider audience.
Whilst participants are attending the workshop, they will be filmed and photographed and this data will be looked at by the Chief Investigator and staff in order to verify that the choices being made by participants with PMLD are as rigorously understood as possible.
Two short films will be produced as outcomes of the project. In addition, a touring exhibition is planned to circulate venues in the South East. Whilst celebrating the achievements of the participants with PMLD, these will also serve to share the processes developed, the challenges that were overcome, and skills that were acquired during the intervention. This is the learning that will inform the understanding of the term meaningful engagement within this context. A series of best practice recommendations will be made to inclusive arts and health care practitioners, carers, family members, academics and policy makers.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0264
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion