4th Congress of Participation Research

The Fourth Congress of Participation Research takes the 20th anniversary of the UN CRPD as an opportunity to examine these issues from a local and global perspective and to look for ways to achieve equal participation.

• Enabling people with disabilities to lead a self-determined life on the basis of choices that apply to all other members of society requires appropriate measures, e.g. the dismantling of special institutions in favor of inclusive alternatives and support services. There is a need for research and development, e.g. with regard to social law reforms, realignment of support programs, inclusion-oriented support services and overall and participation planning.
• At a municipal level, policy in the field of disability is developing dynamically. The challenge here is to consistently align planning with the UN CRPD, to make it participatory and to link various areas of life (including education, youth welfare, leisure, ageing) with cross-cutting issues (including mobility, accessibility, digitalization).
• The congress broadens the view for European and global perspectives and focuses on international cooperation in accordance with Article 32 of the UN CRPD between state and civil society actors, including self-advocacy organizations and academia in North-South, South-North, South-South and North-North dimensions. Global frameworks such as the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sendai Framework and the New Urban Agenda emphasize the importance of "inclusive cities and communities" with accessible infrastructure and participatory planning processes.

In addition to these focal points, the congress - as usual - invites contributions from the entire spectrum of participation research. These include studies on work and employment, assisted living, digital participation, health and rehabilitation, sport and leisure, political and cultural participation or education and learning.

The congress welcomes diverse methodological approaches to participation research: from quantitative studies and qualitative analyses to mixed-methods approaches, from participatory and emancipatory research designs to ethnographic work and theoretical-conceptual contributions. Innovative research approaches that involve people with disabilities as co-researchers or test new ways of producing knowledge in participation research are particularly welcome.