Commentary on: Reason M, Acton K, Foulds D. Working it out together: Lessons and insights into inclusive research in an arts context. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 2024:1–11.
Implications for practice and research Inclusive research places a strong emphasis on the active empowered participation, particularly in decision-making and agenda-setting, of marginalised/disadvantaged community members in every step of the research process. Implementation research needs to focus on how research methodologies can be democratised through a continuous commitment to allyship with marginalised/disadvantaged populations towards empowered involvement.
Research in the field of learning disabilities has been influenced by ableist practices, often excluding individuals with learning disabilities and autism from the research process. This exclusionary tradition, which also has been observed in research with other marginalised/disadvantaged groups, has diminished their capacity to drive change within their communities.