David Abbott

Qualifications

Role

Reader in Social Policy

Director of Research for School for Policy Studies

Contact details

Direct line: 0117 331 0972

Email: d.abbott@bristol.ac.uk

Biography

I joined the Centre in 1999 having previously worked at Loughborough University and a London Health Authority carrying out social policy research.

Research interests

Much of my work has focused on issues for disabled children and young people – as well as their families and the services that support them. I have an interest in transition to adulthood, multi-agency working, and disabled children who live away from home in residential settings such as schools and colleges.

Another area of interest is around gay, lesbian and bisexual people with learning difficulties – their experiences, the barriers they face and the ways in which they overcome them.

Finally, I have a long standing interest in how families in the whole population think about their economic security and the risks they face in maintaining it. This work has been carried out in partnership with colleagues at the Centre for Housing Policy, University of York.

Current research projects

• Climate Change & Disabled People: A Scoping Study.
• End of Life Planning with Young Men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with UBHT.
• Men living with long-term conditions: Exploring gender and improving social care with Jon Hastie & the Duchenne Family Support Group.

Recent projects

'Evaluation of disabled children's access to childcare' (DCATCH) pilot. In partnership with the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Warwick. Funded by the Department for Education.

'Developing methods and frameworks for understanding gender, disability and transition to adult life'. In partnership with Bloorview Research Institute (University of Toronto) and University of Loughborough. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

'Researching the lives of disabled children and young people, with a focus on their perspectives'. ESRC research seminar series

‘Becoming an adult: transition for young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’. This research is based at the School for Policy Studies and is a collaboration with the Duchenne Family Support Group, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and the Centre for Life at Newcastle University.

‘Secret Loves, Hidden Lives: Issues for gay, lesbian and bisexual people with learning difficulties’. This study, carried out with Joyce Howarth and in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust and REGARD was funded by the Lottery. Further information is avialble at the on-line documents section of the website.

‘Risk: the role of difference’ was carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Housing Policy (University of York) and was an ESRC study funded. The work looked at how different social groups (including disabled people) think about risks to their financial security (for further details see: http://www.kent.ac.uk/scarr/

Publications

Abbott, D. & Marriott, A. (2012) Money, finance and the personalisation agenda for people with learning disabilities in the UK: some emerging issues, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, published online early: 24 FEB 2012 | DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3156.2012.00728.x

Abbott, D. (2012) Other Voices, Other Rooms: Talking to Young Men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) about the transition to adulthood, Children & Society, 26 (3) 241-50.

Abbott, D., Carpenter, J. & Bushby, C. (2012) Transition to Adulthood for Young Men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Research from the UK, Neuromuscular Disorders, 22, 445-456.

Abbott, D. & Carpenter, J. (2012) ‘Talking about Tricky Transitions with Young Men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and their Families’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2 (2) 178-179.

Cheshire, H., Brown, V., Wollny, I., Ireland, E., Scott, S., Jessiman, P., Blackburn, C., Read, R., Purdon, S. & Abbott, D. (2011) Impact Evaluation of the Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare Pilot (DCATCH). DFE-RR168 Department for Education: London (101 pages).

Abbott, D., Kotecha, M., Scott, S., Jessiman, P., Kazimirski, A., Read, J. & Blackburn, C. (2011) Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare (DCATCH): a Qualitative Evaluation. Department for Education: London (99 pages).

McLean, L., McLean, C. & Abbott, D. (2010) Becoming a Man: Life with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Campaign: London.

Jessiman, P., Wollny, I., Keogh, P., Kazimirski, A., Read, J., Blackburn, C. & Abbott, D. (2010) Process evaluation of participation and workforce development activity in the DCATCH pilots. Department for Education: London.

Abbott, D. (2010) ‘Involving disabled children and young people in research and consultations: issues, challenges and opportunities’, in  Greener, I., Holden, C. and Kilkey, M. (eds.) Social Policy Review 22: Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2010, 275 – 290, Policy Press: Bristol.

Abbott, D. & Heslop, P. (2010) ‘Transition to adulthood for young disabled people’, in Mason, T. (ed.) Key Concepts in Learning Disability, 253 – 258, SAGE: London.

Abbott, D. & Carpenter, J. (2010) Becoming an Adult: Transition for young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), London: Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Abbott, D. & Marriott, A. (2010) Money, Rights & Values: Supporting the financial inclusion of people with learning disabilities, London: Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Abbott, D. & Carpenter, J. (2009) Becoming an Adult: Transition for young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), London: Department of Health.

Townsley, R., Ward, L., Abbott, D. & Williams, V. (2009) The Implementing of Policies Supporting Independent Living for Disabled People in Europe: Synthesis report. Utrecht: Academic Network of European Disability Experts.

Abbott, D. & Heslop, P. (2009) ‘Out of sight, out of mind? Transition for young disabled people in out-of-area residential schools and colleges’, British Journal of Special Education, 36 (1) 45-55.

Heslop, P. & Abbott, D. (2009) ‘Help to Move On – but to what? Young people with learning difficulties moving on from out-of-area residential schools or colleges’, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37 (1) 12-20.

Quilgars, D., Jones, A. & Abbott, D. (2009) ‘Does difference make a difference in financial planning for risk?’, in Denney, D. (ed.) Living in Dangerous Times: Fear, insecurity, risk and social policy, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Teaching

‘Including Students’ Voices’: Unit on the NFRC Masters Programme, ‘Inclusive Theory and Practice: Empowering people with learning disabilities’.