A distinguised professor with a background in learning disability services, who has produced several important research documents, will speak at NUI Galway tonight (Thursday ).
Professor Hilary Brown of Canterbury Christ Church University will deliver the second lecture in the NUI Galway Centre for Disability Law and Policy’s annual public lecture series at 6pm in Room MY129 at Áras Moyola.
The topic of the evening’s discussion will be “Violence and Abuse Against People with Disabilities”. Her lecture will be followed by an open question and answer session.
Professor Brown’s background in learning disability services was strongly focused on abuse and disability rights’ issues. During the late 1980s and early ‘90s, she was employed by South East Thames Regional Health Authority as part of the team responsible for supporting the transition from institutions to community based models of care.
During this time she also developed training on sexuality for people working in learning disability services and became alert to issues of sexual abuse and abusing which later became the focus of her research. She has produced several important pieces of research in this area in recent years, including a literature review on abuse of disabled people for the National Disability Authority of Ireland in 2006.
The director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, Professor Gerard Quinn, says in the wake of a number of reports in recent years, such as the Ryan Report - which highlighted the extent of abuse of people with disabilities - it is important to think constructively about ways forward which can prevent similar abuse from reccurring.
“This public lecture will highlight how law and policy can address these issues in an effective manner.”
The lecture will be an opportunity to reflect on current issues facing people with disabilities, families and carers, service providers and policy-makers in Ireland and abroad and should be of interest to people who want to promote the rights of people with disabilities and other marginalised communities.
The 2010-2011 Centre for Disability Law and Policy’s annual public lecture series is a sequence of four lectures taking place throughout the academic year which focus on topics of interest to people with disabilities, their families and carers.
The lecture is open to the public and refreshments will be served afterwards. To reserve a place contact Eileen Glynn at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at [email protected]
