Scoping Accessibility and Disability Inclusion in Academic Publishing (Ref:251207, RIP-RAP-25-01)

Project Title:

Scoping Accessibility and Disability Inclusion in Academic Publishing

Project Supervisor:

Dr Andy Coverdale, a.coverdale@soton.ac.uk.

Institution:

Centre for Research in Inclusion, Southampton Education School, University of Southampton

Placement Period:

Between January 2026 and March 2026. Placement available full-time for 3 months (13 weeks) or part-time (details to be discussed with project supervisor).

How to Apply:

Send a CV and covering email to Dr Andy Coverdale copied to scdtp@soton.ac.uk outlining their interest in the position and highlighting relevant expertise and experience.

Deadline to Apply:

7th December 2025

Placement Details:

Project description

The research project addresses the challenge of inaccessibility and the digital marginalisation of disabled scholars in academic publishing. Across higher education, ‘academic ablism’ is increasingly understood and challenged. However, in academic publishing, there remains a critical gap between Open Access principles and genuine accessibility for disabled scholars as both producers and consumers of academic scholarship. Despite mandates for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) across UK public research funding, current research suggests an accessibility crisis in academic publishing, demonstrating a decline in the accessibility of scholarly documents over the last decade. This represents a significant barrier to scholarship and access to new knowledge. At the same time, the inaccessibility of authorial and editorial platforms present substantial obstacles for disabled scholars and researchers involved in knowledge production and dissemination. In these ways, technical barriers lock out disabled academics and produce ‘disability’ as a marginalised subjectivity.

To address this, the project examines how academic publishers are working to embed digital accessibility across the journal publication workflow to ensure publishing platforms and research outputs are accessible to all disabled people, inclusive of those with sensory, cognitive, physical, and other disabilities. Given the trajectory of international accessibility legislation and the potential to harness AI in these processes, the placement will contribute to timely and valuable research-led understanding of this topic.

RAP work to be undertaken

1. Managing the research project under the supervision and mentorship of Coverdale and Lewthwaite
2. Conducting a scoping review of literatures on ablism and accessibility with respect to academic publishing
3. Surveying and analysing existing accessibility strategy and practices in relation to academic publishing. Specifically, this will include: i) Conducting a scoping review of relevant documentation (e.g. accessibility statements) for leading research journal platforms and ii) Planning and conducting semi-structured interviews with academic publishers, journal editors and disabled editors and authors (includes ethics procedures).
4. Analysing and synthesising qualitative data.
5. Supporting the reporting and dissemination of findings.
6. Undertaking training on digital accessibility principles and standards.

The placement will also provide an option to co-author a briefing, white paper or academic publication based on the research (following the duration of the placement).

Anticipated benefits for the student

• The placement will provide an opportunity to establish or develop knowledge and experience in inclusion and accessibility and to engage in high quality research in the field.
• The student will be contributing significant new knowledge to an under-explored area within the field of academic work, inclusion and accessibility.
• The student will gain significant insight into academic publishing and will have the opportunity to engage directly with academic publishers, editors and authors.
• The student will gain valuable skills and experience in managing a small research project under the supervision and mentorship of Andy Coverdale and Sarah Lewthwaite.
• The student will join the Centre for Research and Inclusion as part of this thriving specialist research community.

Anticipated benefits for host

• Outputs from the placement will build on existing research by Lewthwaite and Coverdale on digital accessibility within the academic sector; accessible communication for people with intellectual disabilities; and an access study for the British Journal of Intellectual Disabilities.
• Outputs will provide a basis for further work in this area and applications for funding (e.g. ESRC Impact Acceleration Account) and academic outputs, for which the student would be a named contributor.
• The work will engage current and potential uses of AI for accessibility which is a key focus of our current UKRI-funded research.
• The work will engage industry responses to the European Accessibility Act (2025) and other accessibility regulations and policy that are a key focus of our current research.
• The placement will provide a valuable research leadership and mentoring opportunity for Early Career Researcher, Dr Andy Coverdale.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• An understanding of the importance of disability and disability inclusion and the value of making academic outputs accessible (essential).
• Confidence in project-management and communicating with industry professionals, academics and other stakeholders (essential).
• Qualitative research skills including data collection, via literature review, content analysis, semi-structured interviews; and working with qualitative data using thematic analysis (essential).
• An understanding of core principles of digital accessibility and assistive technologies and awareness of related technical and legislative aspects (desirable).

Funds provided by the host

Any required training or professional development directly related to the placement will be supported. We anticipate that a minimum of 5% of the placement will be allocated to this professional development, £750 is available for this purpose. All necessary travel directly related to the placement will be covered.

(Ref:251207, RIP-RAP-25-01)
 

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