Dignity and the Importance of Acknowledgement of Personhood for People With Disability

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Published 22nd February 2024

Authors: Chapman, K.,Dixon, A., Ehrlich, C., & Kendall, E.

The Dignity Project continues to explore the perspectives of diverse people with disability to better understand dignity and the complex ways it impacts on individual and collective experiences. Employing an extreme citizen science approach (The Dignity Project Framework), the research actively involved people with disability in data collection through qualitative surveys and focus groups, using Framework Analysis for validity. The findings show that dignity is contingent on the acknowledgement of personhood for people with disability. Importantly, dignity is enabled by recognising decision-making rights, ensuring access to information, preserving privacy, and maximising accessibility and inclusion. The study emphasises the need for adaptable healthcare services that are co-designed with individuals with lived experience of disability to address challenges the key barriers to dignity. 

Citation: Chapman, K.,Dixon, A., Ehrlich, C., & Kendall, E. (2024). Dignity and the Importance of Acknowledgement of Personhood for People With Disability. Qualitative Health Research, 34(1-2), 141–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323231204562

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Authors

Elizabeth Kendall

Professor and Director

Carolyn Ehrlich

Associate Professor

Kelsey Chapman

Angel Dixon