Living Life to the Fullest (ESRC), the ESRC-funded arts-informed co-produced research project co-lead by The Co-Researcher Collective and Dan Goodley, Katherine Runswick-Cole and Kirsty Liddiard at the University of Sheffield, continues to go from strength to strength.

The project’s Co-Researcher Collective – a group of young disabled people with life-limiting and life-threatening impairments (LL/LTIs) who are co-leading inquiry – is currently undertaking a range of activities across the project. This includes:

• Data collection through interviewing young disabled people using new social technologies (Skype, FaceTime, Messenger, and WhatsApp);
• Developing our arts strategy alongside Purple Patch Arts (our community research partners)
• Sharing our arts practice with disability arts organisations such as the Attenborough Arts Centre and artist practitioners at the Creative Arts Service at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow.
• Project academics and co-researchers are also busy co-writing articles for publication in academic journals and charity publications.

Excitingly, Living Life to the Fullest will be showcasing its unique approach to co-production in a panel at the upcoming 9th Biennial International Lancaster Disability Conference. Together, project academics and co-researchers Sally Whitney and Emma Vogelmann will share their methodological and theoretical journey so far, as well as premiere a short film currently in production by The Collective, The Living Life to the Fullest Project: The Co-Researcher Collective (2018).

Finally, the Co-Researcher Collective is currently in talks with BBC Digital and Channel 4 with the aim of producing content that raises awareness of the barriers faced by young disabled people with LL/LTIs and their families – so watch this space!

• To follow Living Life to the Fullest’s lively blog click the box to the right!
• If you have any questions or would like further information, please email Kirsty on k.liddiard@sheffield.ac.uk