Parkland Institute Grant Supports Research Project

From "The Legend" October 2012

Parkland Institute grant supports research project

by Bob Cooney

The Parkland Institute has granted funding for the first time under a new program established this year.

Both the Parkland Institute Faculty Research Grant and the Parkland Institute Graduate Research Award aim to provide seed funding for University of Lethbridge faculty and their research teams, including stu­dents, in areas of public policy. Dr. Claudia Malacrida (sociolo­gy) and international graduate student Alan Santinele Martino are the first recipients of the combined $10,000 award.

Both researchers will be ex­ploring information and services about relationships, intimacy and sexuality for people with intellectual disabilities. Malac­rida will be gathering data on the policy and programming options that guide individuals, family members and agencies in their decision-making.

Martino will be interview­ing agency workers about the challenges and resources they experience in supporting people with intellectual disabilities in terms of sexuality and relation­ships.

Parkland Institute Director Dr. Trevor Harrison (sociol­ogy) says the projects fit well within the institute’s mandate to research topics of interest to a broad audience, and which ex­amine disparity between groups or organizations.

“Studying the issues sur­rounding sexuality in the context of an intellectual or developmental disability is an under-researched area that we are pleased to support both at a faculty level and at a graduate student level,” says Harrison.

“Research is a long-term process that often suffers in the initial stages for lack of start-up funds, much like a small busi­ness. We are hopeful that, by making sure projects like these get started, they lead to other opportunities for our researchers and graduate students.”

Martino says that advocat­ing for the rights and social inclusion of individuals with disability has always been a per­sonal commitment.

“I have an older brother with cerebral palsy, and I believe that this research is a chance to connect knowledge and practice in a way that we can improve the lives of individuals with disabil­ity, as well as their families.”

“For me, it is not possible to talk about social inclusion with­out considering sexuality. We need to acknowledge the impor­tance of recognizing individuals with disabilities as sexual beings within their communities and providing them with opportuni­ties for a healthy sexual develop­ment.”

Martino is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. He came to the U of L to work with Malacrida after completing his under­graduate degree at St. Lawrence University in New York State. He plans to interview agencies, policymakers and community members to learn more about how sexuality is either integrated or not integrated into the process of working with people with developmental disabilities, and hopes to influence change at a policy level.

“The key objective of my research is to influence the poli­cies and practices in the agency and government levels, identify­ing gaps and suggesting possible solutions.”