The last few weeks have me thinking about the idea of ‘co-production’.
Actually, that’s wrong, I’ve been thinking about co-production on and off for the last ten years (without calling it that) but the last few weeks have brought some questions to the fore. I’m sure more thoughts will come out in time, particularly since things in projects that I’m involved with are evolving, raising challenges and questions that I want to make public.
To watch this article signed by Mike, click play below!
But, for the moment, here’s a thought.
It’s really important for universities to be co-producing research with the Deaf community. REALLY important. Actually, if something that was said at a conference recently is true, it’s inevitable.
Since the work that we (hearing academics) do involves information from and knowledge about the Deaf community, it is co-produced, whether we, or the Deaf community like it or not. (This question of ‘liking it’ isn’t inevitable. There are things that we can do, but the difficulties will be explored in a future post).
So, the question shifts to being ‘aware’ that we are co-producing and do it as best we can.
So, how – and here’s my question – can we be thinking of projects that are designed to be co-produced with the Deaf community when we’ve not even asked them if they’d like to be involved first?
(I’ll set aside the question of ‘how much’ of a project needs to be ‘Deaf’ and how much ‘hearing’ for the moment.)
How can we think of a project, think that it’s an interesting idea, think that it’s a good idea for the community, think that we know how to set it up… and then write the proposal, get the funding… all without the community being involved, and then expect the community to gratefully leap into a ready exploration of co-production with us?
We can’t, surely. I mean, if the Deaf community did the same; dreamed up a project, wrote it, went off and got funding, all without telling us. And then suddenly turned up at the door of the university and expected us to understand that it was a project that was ‘empowering’ and that they expected us to be grateful and immediately get involved… I can imagine the response.
In fact, I’m not even sure there would be a response. More a puzzled ‘what?’
Before writing people into a co-production proposal, it’s only polite to ask… surely?
This blog was the first of a series on the subject (keep looking at Mike’s blog for more) and was first published here: http://mikegulliver.com/2014/09/08/its-only-polite-to-ask-deaf-people-before-we-co-produce-with-them-surely/
Mike Gulliver is a hearing academic whose main research field is the history of the Deaf community. He is particularly interested in the question of ‘Deaf space’, and the similarities between the Deaf community and other linguistic minority groups. He has researched Deaf identity in Spain, the question of BSL ‘ownership’ and recognition, and the history of both English and French Deaf communities. He is currently writing a book about the first London church built specifically for Deaf people – St Saviour’s, on Oxford Street. Mike lives in Bristol with his wife Jo, his two children: Amelie and Zebedee, two cats and two chickens. He is a keen cyclist. Read his blog here: http://mikegulliver.com/
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Natalya
September 18, 2014
If you know any sign watch the BSL version of this people – especially the second part. I reckon it is clearer to me than the English and trust me my BSL’s rusty-level 2 with no grammar and I wasn’t getting all of it.
Very interesting article and issue. I’m deaf myself but oral educated and not very fluent in sign so a lot of what you say about “doing work for/with deaf people” or indeed another community of my life “trying to be less race/class fail” applies to me with similar issues and thinking (needed). Thanks, that’s given me some thoughts of some things I would like to do (and perhaps apologise/recognise not being done before).
It’s about working not being a ‘white knight’ while recognising structural barriers in universities/research and I like the idea of early inclusion and letting the deaf people choose how much they share the knowledge/burden of funding bids, research proposals etc.
Sandra Dowe
September 18, 2014
There are Deaf Researchers who should be involved in the design of projects and can advise on the usefulness of practical application of research. After all, what is good is research without benefiting the Deaf Community? Agree Mike, hearing academics should consult and work with Deaf academics who, I think, are ignored, possibly because hearing academics need to be able to comunicatie with them directly – not with interpreters. Hope you receive responses from Deaf researchers and academics.
John Walker
September 18, 2014
In the Our Space project (HEFCE funded), I started the project with a meeting with the Deaf community (who the project was aimed for) and presented the general themes/questions. And then invited the group to clarify the questions and scope of the study, as well as types of methodology. I am a Deaf person, and even I should centre my work in the Deaf community. After all, how can social research be presented otherwise?
I came across a paper from a researcher looking at how blind footballers organise themselves and collaborate and the research took up a position as an administrator for the project. But that person never told the footballers that she was researching them, and when we presented the results – there were calls for the research to be removed. Of course it was: it was plain poor ethics – but there is an attitudinal element that this research is allowed to take place. In that paper, she reflected upon the same question that Mike is asking in this article.
In areas of Oral History practice, there is an emphasis on researcher/narrator relationship and that relationship should be carefully defined. There is a continuous relationship between the researcher, narrator and the narration material itself, which lasts a life time: from inception, interview, capture, archiving and re-use. There are areas of research where the relationship with the given group must be conceived from the start.
trizia.wells@eureka.org.uk
September 24, 2014
As a freelance community researcher and inclusion manager, I think that the principle of co-production in any community project is the ONLY starting point – who-ever the community is. Engaging with that community is the hardest part of any project and always has me tearing my hair out.
Recently I worked on a museum exhibition about different types of disability – and acquired deafness or hearing impairment was one of the areas we wanted to research. I contacted local deaf associations directly, I got in touch with support services and charities, I put out notices on social media etc. It was soooo difficult to get people to come along and take part in focus groups and object handling sessions. We offered interpretation and palantyping services, paid expenses, and provided yummy refreshments – and finally we did manage to gather about half a dozen people together, with varying degrees of deafness and representing a range of ages and experiences of acquired deafness. It was one of the most enriching afternoons I’ve ever had – hearing about people’s experiences of acquired deafness in a hearing world. Their opinions and experiences are reflected in a public exhibition which will raise awareness amongst thousands of visitors over the next four years.
The difficulty of establishing a dialogue isn’t restricted just to the deaf community, I hasten to add, this is just my most recent experience. If you do see a call for participation- please please take it – you’ll be helping to shape a project that will raise the profile of your community, that will raise awareness and hopefully promote understanding in the wider community – oh and there may be some great cake involved too!