Joseph Gona

qualifications: MSc

contribution: original concept, designed the project, supervised data collection, wrote the first draft, literature review, literature review

position: Research officer

Charles Newton

qualifications: MD

contribution: supervised data collection, contributed to drafts

position: Professor

Jo-Anne Geere

qualifications: MSc

contribution: input data, contributed to drafts

position: Lecturer

Sally Hartley

qualifications: PhD

contribution: original concept, input data, contributed to drafts

position: Professor

My research activity to date has sort to provide evidence about the rehabilitation strategy recommended by the WHO (community-based rehabilitation CBR) for 'Majority World' countries. This has involved promoting participatory strategies to increase validity and has targeted improved quality of life as the desired intervention outcome. Particular focus has been given to children with communication disabilities who form around 50% of the disabled population worldwide. Generally I am interested in research that provides evidence about the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions and at the same time increases our understanding of the processes involved. To this end I am keen to explore the use of the International Classifications of functioning and disability (ICF) (WHO 2001) as an analytical tool by which processes and outcomes can be understood and communicated between professional groups. I am also interested in promoting and evaluating user participation to maximize the validity of interventions. Future research will involve exploring the effect of communication breakdown on health and well-being and its impact on the service user/provider interface.