| The course runs from 7 to 11 July 2025. |
Persons with disabilities make up a significant proportion of the world’s population (16%). They frequently face greater barriers and experience more inequalities compared to persons without disabilities, including with respect to their health. For example, persons with disabilities, on average, have poorer health outcomes and access, including a 14 year shorter life expectancy, but much of this inequity is avoidable through more inclusive healthcare services and tackling disability stigma.
Addressing gaps like these can be challenging for professionals. Evidence is critical, yet it can be difficult to conceptualise what "disability" is and measure it in surveys, and there are additional considerations when undertaking qualitative and participatory research with this population. Effective solutions require an understanding of the specific health needs of persons with disabilities and how these might vary across subpopulations (e.g., impairment type) and contexts. Finally, even when equipped with evidence, it can be difficult to develop solutions to address health needs and barriers and put these interventions into practice.
The Introduction to Global Disability Issues: Developing Skills in Inclusive Research and Health Practice short course equips professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct research with persons with disabilities and to design, develop, and evaluate inclusive interventions aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities.
The course is organised and taught by members of the International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Who is this course for?
This course has been designed for professionals who conduct (or want to conduct) research with persons with disabilities or who are health professionals wishing to understand the health needs and barriers facing this population and develop solutions. It is suitable for those based in both high-income or low- and middle-income countries, with or without a background in disability, disability research or health. The course will focus on global health.
Teaching methods
The course is taught by LSHTM staff who have extensive experience in disability, disability research and health sector programming. The course is delivered online via live lectures and supported by some peer-to-peer group work. Course materials, including PowerPoint presentations and key references, will be provided electronically and in accessible formats.
Assessment
Students will receive a certificate of completion on finishing the Introduction to Global Disability Issues short course.
Introduction to Global Disability Issues aims to introduce students to the importance of disability issues in the global context and equip students with the skills to conduct disability-inclusive research and advance inclusive health practice for this population.
Upon completion of this Short Course, students will be able to:
- Explain different ways of defining disability and the major types of impairment leading to disability in the global context;
- Apply skills to conduct research involving persons with disabilities, including identification of disability within surveys;
- Identify the health needs of people with disabilities and barriers they may experience to accessing healthcare globally;
- Apply skills to develop solutions to help address these barriers.
By building on specific examples from the ICED’s work, this Short Course will cover the following topics:
- Conceptualising disability: What is disability? What are the common conceptual models of disability? Why are disability issues important and why is disability inclusion needed?
- Measuring disability: What are the major types of impairment leading to disability, and what is their global distribution? How can disability be measured?
- Research and disability: How can we identify persons with disabilities in research? What are additional considerations when doing survey or qualitative research with persons with disabilities? What are participatory and inclusive approaches for doing research with persons with disabilities?
- Health needs: Why are people with disabilities at risk of poor health? What are the barriers that persons with disabilities face to accessing healthcare in different global settings?
- Developing inclusive solutions: How can we improve access to general health services for people with disabilities in different global settings? How can we improve access to rehabilitation?
To get the most out of the Introduction to Global Disability Issues short course, students should have a good grasp of English and access to a reliable internet connection for the duration of the course.
Tuition fees for the Introduction to Global Disability Issues short course in July 2025:
£1,200 full fee.
£600 for candidates that are a national of, and currently based in, a Low-or-Middle Income Country (eligible countries) When applying for discounted fees, please include proof of your eligibility. LMIC status can be confirmed with a passport and proof of current residence.
Applying for this course
Applications for 2025 are now open and can be made via our online application form.
The application deadline is 16 June 2025. We strongly advise that you apply early as courses may close earlier than the stated deadline if they become full.
Please read LSHTM's Admissions policies prior to submitting your application.
Visas
The student is responsible for obtaining any visa or other permissions to attend the course, and is encouraged to start the application process as early as possible as obtaining a visa for the UK can sometimes take a long time. The Short Courses team can provide supporting documentation if requested.
Accommodation
A list of hotels located in the vicinity of LSHTM, along with further resources for short-term accommodation, can be found on our accommodation pages.
Important information
Please note:
- Students will be required to bring their own laptops. The Stata package will be available for the duration of the course.
- If you have been offered a place on the course you will not be able to register without bringing a formal ID (Passport) and without having obtained the correct visa if required.
- It is essential that you read the current visa requirements for short course students.
- LSHTM may cancel courses two weeks before the first day of the course if numbers prove insufficient. In those circumstances, course fees will be refunded.
- LSHTM cannot accept responsibility for accommodation, travel and other losses incurred as a result of the course being cancelled.