What is the Disability Matters project?

In this video, Professor Dan Goodley introduces Disability Matters, a six year international research programme exploring disability, health, and science. He focuses on one of the project's key ambitions: building a new generation of disabled and disability positive health researchers.

Dan explains why creating inclusive research cultures matters. Disability Matters supports disabled researchers and professional services staff through mentoring, training, funding opportunities, and international collaboration. The project aims to remove barriers that have traditionally limited participation in research and create environments where disabled and non-disabled colleagues can thrive together.

The video also highlights how Disability Matters draws on different approaches to disability research across Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the UK. From co-produced research to critical disability studies, these approaches challenge ableist assumptions and encourage new ways of thinking about health, science, and society.

At its heart, this work is about more than representation. It is about creating opportunities, supporting careers, and recognising disability as a source of knowledge, insight, and change. Through these efforts, Disability Matters is helping to shape a more inclusive future for health research.