What Can Universities Learn From Disabled Researchers?
How can disability help create better research? Kerri Heng shares how universities can build more inclusive research cultures by learning from disabled researchers and their experiences.
In this video, Kerri Heng discusses her contribution to Disability Matters, an international research programme exploring disability, health, and inclusion. Working as part of the Singapore team, Kerri examines an important question: how does the presence of disability create more inclusive health research environments?
Focusing on universities as places where research is produced, the project explores how disability is represented in policies, employment practices, and research culture. Kerri outlines work examining diversity, equity, and inclusion across Singapore's universities, alongside plans for interviews with academic staff, support professionals, and disabled researchers.
The video highlights the value of bringing disabled people into research environments, not only as participants but as researchers, leaders, and knowledge creators. It also explores how universities can learn from the experiences of disabled people to build more inclusive approaches to health research.
Drawing on her own experiences as a researcher with hearing loss and a visual impairment, Kerri reflects on why this work matters both personally and professionally. Her story shows how disability can help shape richer, more representative research environments that benefit everyone.
Credits
- Researcher: Kerri Heng (Research Assistant at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University)
- Video Production: David Heath (Digital Engagement Officer at the University of Sheffield)