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Contextualising Disability experiences through the use of Ethnography

In the London Borough of Barnet, Disabled people's rating of government services is the lowest of any marginalised group. The Council recognised the need to address these disparities and commissioned Habitus Collective to perform an ethnographic research project as part of desire to renew their Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy and approach.

The aim of the research was to understand the unique experiences of Disabled residents and parents of Disabled children living in Barnet, exploring intersectionality and striving to reduce inequalities within the borough.

Challenges

Identifying local residents that are usually categorised as ‘typically excluded’ or ‘hard-to-engage' and having them participate in a research project that, for them, is just another in a long line of engagement attempts by the Council that result in nothing fundamentally changing for them.

Recognising the limitations of traditional surveys, the Council aimed to create a different approach. One that would authentically capture the voices and experiences of typically underrepresented individuals and their families, especially the voices of people that have not previously connected with the Council. To achieve this, we employed a rapid ethnography (RE), which offered significant insight into the daily lives, real experiences, and social connections, of Disabled residents.

What we did

We presented our approach to the Council’s need in a way that members of the Strategy and Engagement Team pointedly commented upon, saying they found it distinctive and straightforward to follow.

Subsequently, Habitus directly and actively engaged with the community through various approaches, embarking on an immersive ethnographic journey. Data was gathered through observations, walking interviews, in-depth conversations, and the collection of materials shared by residents. Our team reached out to Disabled residents across the borough of Barnet, meeting them in diverse community settings, including libraries, youth centres, coffee shops, and local high streets, including additional visits to food banks. Home visits were also conducted to identify environmental and household barriers.

Our research team used diverse methods to interact with residents, including weekly check-in calls, texts or emails. Maintaining continuous engagement and dialogue ensured their comfort in responding to questions and their continuing contribution of valuable insights, which enabled us to collectively form actionable recommendations for the Council.

Weekly check-in calls / multiple contact sessions (for those residents that had the time to give) meant that we didn’t overwhelm residents with a barrage of profound questions in just one interview. Over time, residents opened-up and provided different examples and extra information in later sessions.

Instead of a typical, formal validation session, we invited all participating residents to a community meal provided by a local caterer. This was to foster a sense of community and to maintain the informal relationship our research team had with the residents. As an added bonus for us, we were delighted that residents felt sufficiently relaxed that they brought their children to the combined meal and session.

How we made a difference

Through having Peer Researchers with Disabled lived experience. Our Peer Researchers were hugely valuable to our team. They supported with the engagement planning and design, helping us find and connect with people less likely to engage with council services and research. Having research data reviewed and interpreted by Disabled people meant we could report the findings to the Council with greater detail and without loss of message in delivering, each key point raised by Disabled local residents.

Habitus set an example of community engagement with a community desperate to engage. By contacting key members of the community to publicise, through the use of advertising on social media, and by using less traditional channels, we were three times oversubscribed for the numbers of people we could engage with on the project.

If the necessary skill, ability and desire to engage with those communities exists, then it is not that difficult to speak with and hear from the marginalised and the ‘unheard.’ Therefore, Habitus created a space for collaboration between us as researchers and a local inclusion and Disability rights organisation. We also supported a local inclusion and Disability rights organisation with our research skills and partnerships.

Results

Our approach set an example of community engagement with ‘less heard’ / ‘underrepresented’ residents in the borough. This emphasised the importance of the right resources, partnerships, and skillsets in addressing systemic issues and barriers. The research recognised that linear and fixed methods are not inclusive and may not work for all residents. A mixed-method approach was developed to enable Disabled residents, parents, and carers to participate in the research in a way that suited them.

More importantly, it demonstrated clearly to the Council that engagement with members of certain communities is not as difficult as is often expected.

Residents shared their experiences, contributing to solutions for systemic barriers, this included uncovering insights that were unexpected by the Council. By addressing basic needs, residents helped shape recommendations and actionable insights. A journey map was created and presented to the Council, vividly showcasing the tangible impact of seemingly small issues when compounded over time. It highlighted the importance of addressing these smaller issues early to prevent trust erosion, and from allowing them to develop into larger and costlier issues for the Council.

By actively involving previously underserved residents in the research process, the Council was able to gain unique and invaluable insights, improve engagement methods, and work towards creating a more equitable environment for all their residents - demonstrating the transformative potential of adopting inclusive research methods to address systemic issues and promote equality.

You can read a summary of the report by clicking on the image below, or find the full report on Barnet Council’s website.

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