Research institute that is fully inclusive in its staff, research, and publishing

The Donald Beasley Institute in New Zealand advances disability rights via inclusive research. A 13-member team, including researchers wirh disabilities and indigenous researchers, promotes accessibility.

Established in 1984 in Dunedin, the Donald Beasley Institute is an independent, not-for-profit organization advancing the rights of disabled people through ethical, inclusive, and transformative research. A team of 13 disability researchers consisting of disabled, indigenous, and queer persons investigate a range of disability rights issues, ensuring that all research processes and documents are inclusive and accessible (including Easy Read, Braille, New Zealand Sign Language, large print, audio and Māori).

Problems Targeted

Historically, people with disabilities – particularly those who experience intersectionality – have been excluded from academic discourse and research.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The Donald Beasley Institute (DBI) is committed to conducting ethical, inclusive, and transformative research that promotes the rights of disabled people. DBI focuses on understanding the lived experiences of disabled people and their families, and generating inclusive, accessible, evidence-based research to inform policy and practice. DBI is led by senior disability, disabled, and indigenous (Māori) researchers. It employs a diverse team of researchers, with ten identifying as disabled, and three as family members of disabled people. This inclusive team ensures that research is conducted by, with, and for disabled people. All research documents are made available in accessible formats, including Easy Read, Braille, New Zealand Sign Language, large print, audio, and Te Reo Māori. Their work spans a wide range of disability-related topics and issues, including disabled person-led monitoring, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), access to justice, deinstitutionalization, abuse in care, health and well-being, families, and parenting.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The Donald Beasley Institute is funded through a combination of grants, private donations, and commissioned and contestable research contracts. After being contracted to carry out the Disabled Person-Led Monitoring of the UNCRPD in 2018, the team tripled in size. Going forward, DBI aims to extend its research impact beyond New Zealand (Aotearoa). (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

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The Donald Beasley Institute conducts inclusive research to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities

The Donald Beasley Institute conducts inclusive research to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities

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