Refining and promoting a 'social model of asylum' as a tool to transform responses to disability and forced migration in the UK.

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A postdoctoral fellowship will enable me to maximise the impact of my doctoral research, to take a leading role in finding solutions to the injustices faced by disabled asylum seekers in the UK and in so doing to take my career to the next stage. My doctoral thesis investigated how the needs and entitlements associated with disability and forced migration in the UK are determined, reinforced, and how they could be more effectively contested. It is one of the first attempts to frame disability and forced migration within the same field, not only bringing them together conceptually and empirically but also bringing the two sectors into conversation with each other, to learn from the perspective of each and to develop more effective alternatives to contemporary inequalities. Out of seven disabled asylum seekers who first introduced me to these intersectional injustices in 2013, four are no longer with us. None of them died of old age. Assuming that no social order is inevitable, I now seek to use a fellowship to promote my research recommendations and to develop effective alternatives to ongoing intersectional struggles. The key elements of my doctoral thesis which I will focus on are: - Drawing on the 'social model' of disability, I propose a 'social model' of asylum to facilitate understanding of the disabling impact of the restrictions within the UK asylum system. My examiners described this conceptual contribution as particularly significant and 'in itself worthy of publication'. - I centred the voices of disabled asylum seekers in my thesis. My examiners considered the findings emanating from these lived experiences as also 'extremely important and worthy of peer-reviewed publication'. - Notwithstanding the pivotal role of disabled asylum seekers in my research, when peoples' survival itself is at risk, they cannot be responsible for the development of alternatives. As one person explained to me, 'I don't have the energy ... I myself am in a floating boat that I can anytime fall down'. It is therefore necessary to develop networks of collaborative learning and solidarity between disabled citizens, asylum seekers and allies. - Publicly engaged academic research can contribute to developing the paradigmatic shift required to address current intersectional inequalities.The fellowship will enable me to build upon my previous research findings. I have developed a programme of activities through which I can take a leading role in developing alternatives to current intersectional injustice. - I will publish my research findings in multiple formats accessible to different readers, including a book targeted at non-academic readership, a journal article in the field of social policy and at least two shorter, more practical blogs focusing on practical changes that are needed.- I will develop a network of academic and non-academic intersectional stakeholders, with a leading role for disabled asylum seekers themselves. I will offer presentations and organize conference workshops on the paradigmatic change required. As part of this, a community artist will work with disabled citizens and asylum seekers to create a painted mural bringing the commonalities and distinctions in people's experiences to a public space. We will work collaboratively to increase understanding and realise the required change to policy and practice.- I will also develop my skills and share my knowledge through teaching and curriculum development- Finally, I will develop and submit proposals for future research.This combination of activities is intended to make a significant impact on an issue of pressing injustice in the UK. It will also enable me to take my career to the next step as an expert in publicly engaged intersectional research.