Norah Fry Research Centre was established in 1988, and 2009 marked a celebration of 21 years of continuous research activity. Its principal interests are in the area of social and policy-related research. The Centre aims to make a positive difference to the lives of disabled children, young people and adults – with a particular emphasis on issues for people with learning disabilities and their families.
In August 2010 the Centre became part of the School for Policy Studies. The Centre has a long history of collaboration and shared interest with colleagues in the School for Policy Studies and this move heralds a new and exciting chapter in the future of the Centre.
Although the primary focus of the Centre is on research, there is now a teaching portfolio, with a masters programme in ‘Inclusive Theory and Practice’ and a doctoral programme in educational psychology.
Staff at Norah Fry Research Centre are drawn from a range of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds. They all share a commitment to three basic principles:
Norah Fry is one of the leading centres in the United Kingdom for research into services for people with learning disabilities. Research studies at the Centre are based on a social model of disability, attempting to support disabled people and their families in identifying and tackling the barriers they face.