People with intellectual disability will be empowered to create their own research project thanks to Flinders University PhD student Felicity Crowther, who has won the national Endeavour Foundation 2018 Endowment Challenge Fund’s inaugural $14,900 Inclusive Research Grant.

Her proposal, titled “People with Intellectual Disability as Researchers: Exploring the Experiences of an Inclusive Research Team”, will open new possibilities to explore research subjects of intrinsic value and interest for people with intellectual disabilities – from jobs, school, family, to friendships and sexuality.

“Research like this can help people with intellectual disability to develop new skills, achieve positive outcomes such as improved self-esteem, meet new people and make new friends,” says Ms Crowther, who is supported in her research by advisor Rachel High, who has an intellectual disability and is helping to ensure the research is as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Participants in the new program will be supported in how to conduct ethical and effective research, and Ms Crowther will also be recording their feedback about their experience as researchers.

“This makes the research doubly valuable, because not only do we have people with intellectual disability conducting their own research but we’ll learn from their experience in doing so,” says Ms Crowther.

The Endeavour Foundation’s independently governed Endowment Challenge Fund has provided more than half a million dollars in grants since 2009 to support people with disability through community projects and research, with the new Inclusive Research Grant viewed as an important addition to their innovative work.