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Researchers in Project Countries

India

Ishwari Pendse

My interest in human rights landed me with the opportunity to work as a Researcher for the Inclusive Public Space Project: Law, Universality and Difference in the Accessibility of Streets. I am responsible for empirical research in Pune, India, for the Project. Presently, I am also working as an associate lawyer in the office of Mr. Chinmay Vaidya, Advocate. I handle civil litigation at trial court and the appellate courts, in relation to election laws, property laws, succession and testamentary laws, family laws, contract laws, tenancy matters, arbitration, etc. I am also pursuing Masters in Law with specialization in Business Laws offered by Savitribai Phule Pune University.

  • Research Interests: Feminist studies; Gender Laws; Human Rights; Constitutional Law; Judicial Process; Legal Theory; Ethics of Care; Family Laws; Litigation
  • Qualifications: LLB; BA in Political Science
  • Professional Membership: Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa
  • Monograph: ‘Jewish Personal Law in India’ by Laxmi Paranjape, Ishwari Pendse and Hrucha Dhamdhere, ISBN No. 978-81-942114-0-2
  • Conference Papers: ‘Feminist Critique of Constitutional Morality’ presented at National Conference on “Seven Decades of Indian Constitution: Contemporary Issues and Challenges” organized by Shankarrao Chavan Law College, Pune (2021); ‘Justice from Care Ethics Perspective’, at the Seminar on ‘Concept of Justice/ Philosophy of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’ organized by Philosophy Department of Savitribai Phule Pune University and S.P. College (2016)
  • Internet Publications: ‘Ethics of Care and Criminal Justice System’ published on Tathya - Walk the Law (Can be accessed at: https://www.tathyalaw.org/post/ethics-of-care-and-criminal-justice-system)

 

Garima Singh

I am a social worker and I have worked in the areas of disability, geriatrics, community development and urban planning, school social work and child rights. My previous internships and trainings augmented as well as enabled me with the opportunities to learn about various aspects of research. I have experience in collecting and analysing data, conducting primary and secondary research and documenting the same for further use by respective organizations. I completed my Master’s degree from Delhi School of Social work, Delhi University (August 2021) and after briefly engaging with policy formulation work with the Blind Relief Association, Delhi, I joined the IPS Project as a Researcher in Delhi, India, and am currently working with a dynamic team consisting of Prof. Sanjay Jain and Ishwari Pendse. Major areas of interest from the beginning of my social work journey have been social policy, mental health and working with people with disabilities.

  • Qualifications: Bachelors in Commerce; Masters in Social Work
  • Training and Certifications: Creating Diversity Champions and Leaders at Workplace - CII and IBDN; Child rights and why they matter - UNICEF; Addiction Treatment clinical skills for healthcare providers
  • Awards and Recognition: Shankar Pathak Award for highest marks in Social Policy (Delhi University)
  • Student Conference Paper: Topic - Ideal Body - A Mental Truth or A Social Myth? – A study in St. Thomas school

 

Kenya

Ezekiel Isanda Oweya

I am excited to join the IPS project in my new role as an English/Swahili Researcher for the Inclusive Public Space Project. I bring years of experience in disability research, accessibility advocacy and road safety activism. I have worked with Disability and Road Safety People’s Organisation in Kenya and abroad in the areas of disability inclusion, research, and road safety. Currently, I am the Kenyan chapter national co-ordinator and chair of African Network for Evidence-to-Action in Disability (AfriNEAD).

The IPS Project is a good fit for me as it brings together a multi-sectoral team with immense knowledge and insights in academic research. The projects also intersect disability, accessibility, and inclusion, which is excellent as it links with my career goal of working within international disability-inclusive research spaces. My roles are participant recruitment and support, data collection, data management and general research operations support. I look forward to working with a great team. I also hope to learn and establish new connections both in my postgraduate work and social life.

I am a postgraduate researcher with backgrounds in critical disability studies, policy processes, and road safety with a qualitative research preference. I hold a postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies, and I am currently undertaking a Master of Philosophy cum PhD project on Disabled youth and livelihoods accessibility using narrative inquiry. The project is titled “Navigating disabled youths’ livelihoods transitions issues-A narrative Inquiry with disabled youth in Nakuru-Kenya”.

  • I have also undertaken extensive training in qualitative research and qualitative evidence synthesis (QES)
  • Academic Background and interest: Critical disability research; disability policy; Quantitative and Qualitative Methods; Narrative Inquiry; Feminist Ethics of Care, disabled youth, and livelihoods.
  • Memberships; The Kenya Society London; Rotary International; African Network for Evidence-to-Action in Disability; International Social Transformation through Occupation Network (ISTTON)
  • Published co-book chapters and articles on disabled youth and livelihoods
  • Writing a chapter for social practice in occupational therapy book (OT Textbook)

 

 

The Netherlands

Edwin Luitzen De Vos

Edwin (1956) has successfully designed, developed, and supported disability studies research in the field of accessibility and inclusion, particularly for disabled and young and elderly people. Edwin is Research Director and Senior Consultant as well as founder of CHAMP Research & Consult, the Netherlands. He is specialized in (cross-national) research and consultancy projects in the field of social security programme operation, rehabilitation and employment policies for persons with disabilities. He is specialized in participatory action research (PAR) on social and labour market issues, social security, health, disability and employment. He has published on social security, employment, inclusion and active labour market policies. He does research on behalf of European organisations and is active member of expert groups on disability and work.

Selected publications in English:

  • Aldred Neufeldt, University of Calgary, Canada; Edwin De Vos, CHAMP Disability Research & Consultancy, The Netherlands; Susanne M. Bruyère, Cornell University, USA. The Global Applied Disability Research and Information Network (GLADNET) contribution to Rehabilitation International (RI) Centennial ePublication, 2020.
  • De Vos EL (2017) Measures on prevention of disability benefit dependency and activation of young persons. Netherlands: Young persons with Health Problems and Employment, Swiss Federal Office of Social Insurance (FSIO/BSV), 2017.
  • Wynn R, McAnaney D, De Vos EL, Reijenga F, (2013) Active Inclusion of Young People with health problems or disabilities in Europe, Consolidated Report, European Foundation, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. (Report on active inclusion policies and practices in 11 EU Member States), Dublin.
  • De Vos EL (2012), Active Inclusion of Young People with health problems or disabilities, The Netherlands National Report, European Foundation, Dublin.
  • De Vos EL. (2010) Disabled Youth in The Netherlands: Benefits and Employment, French version published in: La nouvelle revue de l’adaptation et de la scolarisation. Rédacteur en chef : Hervé Benoit, INS HEA – Institut national supérieur de formation et de recherche pour l’éducation des jeunes handicapés et les enseignements adaptés.