Rebecca Yeo

Dr Rebecca Yeo

Small Group Project 2022-23

Lessons from the disabled people's movement

Social movements are frequently beset by segregation. This project, however, focuses on how social movements can come together and learn from one another; in particular, how other movements might learn from the disabled people’s movement. The disabled people’s movement is often wrongly assumed to have little relevant to offer other social movements. However, we claim that the social model of disability – which draws attention to the disabling and discriminatory impacts of social structures – may be fruitfully employed to combat other areas of social injustice. In doing so, we draw on the Co-PI’s prior work developing a ‘social model of asylum’ as well as the PI’s work on collaborations between social movement groups on contentious issues.

More information

Areas of interest

Intersectionality Disability Disability Justice Forced Displacement Migration Asylum Policy Climate Crisis

Cohort

FG8

Biography

Rebecca’s doctoral and postdoctoral explores intersectional injustices associated with disability and forced migration in the UK. Her book ‘Disabling Migration Controls’ argues that the restrictions imposed on people seeking asylum are actively disabling and that insights from the disabled people’s movement are highly relevant to building greater justice. She facilitates the Disability and Migration Network.

Rebecca is now working on the Sensing Climate project. It is increasingly apparent that new approaches are needed to address the climate emergency and that the disproportionate impact of extreme weather events on disabled people cannot be addressed simply by inclusion in business as usual. Sensing Climate aims to find out from disabled people living in a wide range of circumstances about people’s needs, experiences and insights in relation to climate change. Using an array of creative research methods including public art, the project enables people who contribute to the research to have a central role in developing and promoting the research findings. In these ways, the insights of disabled people can contribute to developing more effective and equitable response to climate change.

Rebecca has regularly used public art as a research method. Disability Murals showcases research working with groups of disabled people to create artwork led by artist Andrew Bolton showing people’s main messages and ideas.

Rebecca’s research interests are focused on response to struggles for disability, migration and climate justice.

Biographical details correct as of 19.04.26