Dr Beverley Samways is a researcher specialising in the emotional lives, relationships and experiences of people with learning disabilities, particularly those who are non-speaking.

Beverley’s research is grounded in more than 20 years of experience in children’s social care, where she worked with young people with learning disabilities and complex support needs, including those whose distress and emotional experiences were difficult for others to understand. This experience shaped her commitment to understanding people’s lives from their own perspectives, particularly when they do not communicate through speech.

She completed her ESRC-funded PhD in Social Policy at the University of Bristol in 2023. Her doctoral research explored the emotional and relational experiences of three young people with learning disabilities living in children’s homes, developing innovative methods to enable non-speaking young people to contribute as primary research participants. Her subsequent work examines trauma, self-injury, relationships and the ways that services can better recognise and respond to distress.

Beverley is the author of Unspoken Stories: Learning to Listen to People with Intellectual Disabilities Who Are Non-Speaking, which explores how we can better understand people whose communication is often overlooked. She is also Founder and CEO of Unique Connections, a social enterprise which translates research into specialist support and trauma-informed practice for people with learning disabilities in distress.

Beverley is a Churchill Fellow 2024, through which she explored trauma-informed approaches in the United States and developed international connections. Across her research and practice, she is committed to inclusive research, meaningful participation and creating the conditions in which people with learning disabilities can be understood, connected with and supported to live fulfilling lives.