Emma Q Burns

Emma Q Burns is a Research Ireland-funded PhD student at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy. Emma's thesis title is "Getting hold of the wheel": the experiences of the National Platform of Self Advocates participating in public and politicial life, a participatory research study of an organisation of self-advocates with an intellectual disability as they engage in the public sphere. She holds a BSc in International Studies from the Open University and an MA in Sociology (Applied Social Research) from University of Limerick.

Alongside her doctoral research, Emma has held a number of Research Associate positions at the CDLP, working on such projects as the Children Representative Advocacy research project for Inclusion Ireland, the Re(al) Productive Justice: Gender and Disability project, and providing research and administrative support to various other projects and events at the CDLP.

Previous to joining the CDLP, Emma was a Research Assistant at University of Limerick, working in such areas as the tranisition of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland and Northern Ireland moving from congregated settings to community or independent living, and inclusive research support and training. Before this, Emma worked for over ten years in a variety of adult education and second-level learning support roles in Ireland and Germany.

Emma's research interests are in the broad area of participatory and creative research methods, as well as disability justice as it specifically relates to public and political participation, DPOs, community organising and reproductive rights.