About the Centre

Norah Fry Research Centre was established in 1988, and 2009 marks a celebration of 21 years of continuous research activity. Its principal interests are in the area of social and policy-related research. The Centre aims to make a positive difference to the lives of disabled children, young people and adults – with a particular emphasis on issues for people with learning disabilities and their families.

Although the primary focus of the Centre is on research, there is now a teaching portfolio, with a masters programme in ‘Inclusive Theory and Practice’ and a doctoral programme in educational psychology.

Staff at Norah Fry Research Centre are drawn from a range of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds. They all share a commitment to three basic principles:

  • People with learning disabilities have the same human value as anyone else.
  • Having choice and control over where people live and how they are supported is an important human right for all.
  • We must recognise the individuality of people with learning disabilities.

Norah Fry is one of the leading centres in the United Kingdom for research into services for people with learning disabilities. Research studies at the Centre are based on a social model of disability, attempting to support disabled people and their families in identifying and tackling the barriers they face.