Title: Navigating, Feeling and Living 'SEND': Parent and Practitioner Experiences of Raising Autistic Children at a Time of Austerity
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: 1. Develop track record by publishing three single-authored papers (based on my PhD thesis chapters) and two co-authored papers in human geography and disability studies journals. These will build on my PhD findings, exposing inequalities in access to austere SEND support across families with autistic children. Single-authored papers will be submitted to: Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers; Social & Cultural Geography; Disability & Society). By publishing I will develop a reputation for agenda setting research in my field and prepare for the next REF cycle. 2. Build national/international academic networks by participating in and organising conferences and workshops, and undertaking an overseas research visit: a. Present at the Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference and Nordic Network on Disability Research Annual Conference b. Deliver public guest lecture at the University of Waikato, New Zealand c. Co-organise one-day conference in the School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE), University of Oxford, with With Dr Jennie Middleton on 'Everyday Geographies of Neurodiversity and Care' d. Visit and collaborate with Professor Lynda Johnston, Dr Carey-Ann Morrison and Dr Patsie Frawley, University of Waikato, NZ, and community organisation, Imagine Better, to: d.i. Co-author comparative paper on geographies of care and disability in UK/NZ d.ii. Share papers in progress with Geography scholars at University of Waikato d.iii. Give a public guest lecture 2. Undertake public engagement and dissemination activities in the UK and NZ a. Develop briefing paper and accompanying video in English and community languages, sharing key PhD findings and policy recommendations b. Write blog post for Special Needs Jungle (SNJ) c. Collaborate with Disabled Children's Partnership (DCP) and SNJ to create a video of parents' 'top tips' for accessing SEND support d. Contribute to government calls for evidence e. Participate in workshop with carers at Imagine Better, to start comparative conversations about access to SEND/family support in UK/NZ 3.Strengthen my research and professional skills via mentoring, training and networking opportunities within SoGE: a. Benefit from Dr Middleton's experience mentoring postdoctoral fellows and research expertise in everyday care and urban austerity b. Contribute to a theoretically and methodologically innovative and growing cluster of research in SoGE/TSU on care, everyday life, disability and urban mobility (Dr Beth Greenhough; Dr Juan Pablo Orjeula Mendoza; Dr Daniel Muñoz; Dr Léa Ravensbergen; Professor Tim Schwannen) c. Attend training on grant application writing and public engagement 4. Build capacity and confidence among SoGE geography students by teaching and running methods training: a. Run accompanying methods training workshop for students in SoGE and other local universities at the 'Everyday Geographies of Neurodiversity and Care' conference b. Run workshops for students on 'personally-motivated dissertation research', e.g. related to austerity, poverty, class, disability, care, sexuality, gender, race/racism, covering: methods, ethics, and researcher wellbeing c. Supervise Masters dissertations 5. Undertake initial scoping research/public engagement in preparation for major project on social infrastructures of care in families with neurodiverse children: a. Apply for Oxford Public Engagement with Research SEED Fund to run small participatory summer research project, upskilling neurodiverse young people to conduct research. It will also function as a scoping project for the development of creative, participatory research methods for working with diverse family members, in preparation for Leverhulme research project b. Research will be collaborative with a local support organisation, e.g. Autism Family Support Oxfordshire (AFSO) 6.Secure academic career and trajectory by applying for the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Scheme

Lay abstract: The aim of this fellowship will be to develop and disseminate the key findings from my doctoral research. Titled Navigating, Feeling and Living 'SEND': Parent and Practitioner Experiences of Raising Autistic Children in a Time of Austerity, my research is geographically novel and politically timely. Drawing on a four-month institutional ethnography with a London borough special educational needs and disability (SEND) team and repeat narrative interviews with 15 parents in the same borough, I have examined how parents of autistic children navigate SEND and social security support, and SEND professionals engage with parents, at a time of austerity. I have shown how austerity impacts on both managers and 'street level bureaucrats' in the SEND system, and on families across the socio-economic spectrum, to evidence what has long been suspected but not proven: that children in different families are unequally placed to access limited SEND services. My research contributes to understandings of austerity, welfare bureaucracies, everyday family life, care, disability, and emotional geographies. My key findings are: 1. That everyday life is lived through the welfare services we need to survive. This means that care isn't just a private matter - rather, parents rely on networks of care and support to help them to care for their child/children. 2. Not all parents are equally able to access SEND support on behalf of their autistic children. SEND is a universal welfare service (it isn't means-tested) but austerity means resources are limited. Parents have to learn how best to access help, often through trial and error. While all parents work extremely hard to navigate SEND services, they don't start from equal points - which means they don't achieve equal outcomes. Underlying structural and systemic inequalities therefore mean families across the socio-economic spectrum are differentially affected by austerity cuts to SEND services. 3. Emotions matter in encounters between SEND practitioners and parents. I show how, even when practitioners and parents are both trying to stay calm, emotions often still run high. This can influence outcomes, with lasting consequences. 4. Parents who care for autistic children are 'parent carers': they are engaged in lots of different kinds of 'work' to look after their child. Their care workload is greater than would typically be expected for a 'neurotypical' child and this requires additional time, effort and mental and physical energy. I argue that parent carers need better state support to manage this. I will use this fellowship to share these key findings with academic audiences (via three single-authored peer reviewed papers, based on my thesis chapters, and conference papers), and via public engagement activities (blog posts, a policy briefing document, video summary, and parliamentary evidence submissions). I will build academic networks by co-organising a conference on 'the geographies of invisible disabilities and everyday care,' presenting at other conferences, and by co-authoring two more papers (one with Jennie Middleton, and one with Dr Morrison, Professor Johnston and Dr Frawley). I will share my findings with academics and members of the public as a visiting researcher to the University of Waikato, NZ, and at Imagine Better (a disability community organisation) in Hamilton, NZ. In doing so, I will forge international research connections and help to start discussions on comparative access to SEND support in the UK and NZ. I will contribute to capacity building amongst junior researchers by running methods training workshops, teaching, and (where appropriate) mentoring. Finally, I will undertake initial participatory scoping research with autism/ADHD family support groups in Oxfordshire, serving as public engagement, public capacity building, and preparation for a Leverhulme grant application.

Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS;8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH