TCELT Research Seminar: March 2026

This presentation shares findings and insights from a 3-year UKRI research study (2022-2025) exploring the experiences of disabled young people and their transitions into adulthood.

Glasgow, Newcastle and York universities conducted 135 interviews with disabled young people (16-29), family members and stakeholders in Central Scotland and North East England.

Disabled young people and organisations supporting disabled people were actively involved throughout the research. In addition to interviews, disabled young people were invited to express their experiences through creative methods.

The research highlights the failure of transitions support and the profound impact of broader social policies on the life experiences and socio-economic well-being of disabled young people, reinforcing inequalities and barriers to inclusion.

Speaker biography

Dr Jane Cullingworth, University of Glasgow

Dr Jane Cullingworth is a Research Fellow in Urban Studies and Social Policy at the University of Glasgow. Her research area is in disability studies with an intersecting focus on third sector studies and issues of employment.

She has significant experience in the field of disability studies and transitions most recently as lead researcher for the Disability and Youth Transitions project. In this work she has used co-productive and creative approaches to conduct research with young disabled people.

Dr. Cullingworth is an early career academic whose work has been published in leading social policy, disability and third sector journals. Prior to academia, she spent over 30 years as a practitioner and Chief Executive in the third sector.