We conduct research on how people with disabilities can participate equally with others throughout all stages of life – in education, employment, leisure, and community life. We explore both the opportunities and barriers to inclusion, and examine how structures, attitudes, and practices influence participation.
The rights and needs of people with disabilities are clearly reflected in several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As awareness of universal design and equality grows, our research contributes knowledge that supports the development of a more inclusive society.
The research group develops research-based knowledge about physical, psychological and social impairments. We also look at how we can strengthen the quality of life, opportunities, functioning, participation and rights for people with disabilities. In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the scope of the research group includes, among other things, people with physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disabilities. Impairments can result, for example, from advanced age, developmental disabilities or drug addiction.
How do we do research?
We use both quantitative and qualitative methods in our research. Case-study, mixed method and longitudinal design are all used, as well as action research, follow-up research, collaborative research and ethnographically inspired fieldwork with participant observations. Emphasis is placed on involving actors in the field (users, relatives, employees) as co-researchers in the projects. The research group has a broad interdisciplinary composition, with researchers in political science, sociology, psychology, law, history, health and social sciences.
In spring 2026, the research group is co-organizing the conference “Sustainability and Rights – How Can They Be Reconciled?”
Read more on the Norwegian Network for Disability Research conference website.
Here you can find information about both ongoing and completed research projects within the group. We have also included a selection of publications that reflect the breadth of our research. Feel free to get in touch if you are interested in collaboration or have questions about our work.
Ongoing research, development and innovation projects
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Welfare socity as a moral system: Boundaries and borders of sustainable managment of collective goods in the Norwegian welfare state. Collaboration with North University and Telemarksforskning, Halvard Vikre
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Appropriating the commons: Articulating the cultural transformation of welfare and charity. Collaboration with North University and Telemarksforskning. Halvard Vikre.
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Inclusion of sign language nursing students in higher education. Project manager: Shahram Moradi.
- Social educator and learning disability nursing education for sign language users. Project manager: Steinar Vikholt.
- The importance of working life for an inclusive society: What consequences does equal participation have for facilitating people with developmental disabilities in ordinary working life? Doctoral student Mariann Mustvedt.
- New care ideology. What are the experiences with municipal team-based services for adults with cognitive impairments? Doctoral student Anne Grete Lund.
- Parents with cognitive difficulties in meetings with child protection services – A study of the parental guidance program Parenting Young Children: Doctoral student Trude Helene Ellingsen.
- Health-promoting collaboration to strengthen work participation. Innovation project financed by NFR: Project owner Vinje municipality. USN partner.
- Day centre as a workplace for people with intellectual disabilities: What makes a day centre more than just a place to be, which factors lead to mastery and give the work meaning, and what role can technology play in this context? Scholarship holder and Doctoral student Lise Ellingsen Langemyhr
- Welfare technology as a means for participation and greater autonomy for persons with intellectual disabilities. Doctoral student Lise Ellingsen Langemyhr.
- New ways of thinking about work inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. Research project funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR). Project owner: The Arctic University of Norway. USN partner.
- Ungdata Pluss
- Disability, leisure and Well-being. PhD. Candidate Christian Møller-Skau
- Hearing-loss. Projcet leader Sharam Moradi
Completed research, development, and innovation projects
- Lindeveteranene - what is important for you? Project manager Halvard Vike.
- Inclusion and coping with life. USN Profession. Project manager: Sabine Gehring.
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Sign Language-Based Social Education Program. Funded by the DAM Foundation. Project lead: Steinar Vikholt.
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The Power of Social Expectations. A doctoral dissertation by Eva Lill Fossli Vassend, exploring identity, relationships, and sexuality in the transition to adulthood.
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Data Collection for and with All Children and Youth. Increasing accessibility in the Ungdata+ survey. Funded by the Regional Research Fund. Project lead: Elisabeth Gulløy.
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Linde veterans – what is important to you? Funded by the Joint Organization for the Disabled. Project manager: Professor Halvard Vike.
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Identity, relationships and sexuality. About being young and having an intellectual disability. Doctoral student Eva Lill Fossli Vassend.
A Selection of Publications from the Research Group
- Exploring Day Center Activities in Norway: How do Employees Facilitate Participation for Workers with Intellectual Disabilities through Interaction and Social Support? An Ethnographic Study. By Lise Langemhr
- Mental and physical health of Iranian older adults with positive covid-19 status across the fith waves of Covid 19. Shahram Moradi.
- Subjective memory impairments in people with hearing loss. Shahram Moradi.
- “Everyone can work here, you know, and just be themselves”A thematic analysis of what employees with intellectual disabilities say about day centres.
Research article by Lise Langemyhr - Subjective measures of disability in children and adolescents: opportunities, challenges, and implications. Sharam Moradi & Christian Møller-Skau
- Hearing loss, hearing aid use, and performance on the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA): findings from the HUNT study in Norway. Sharam Moradi
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The Effect of Sex Education Intervention on Sexual Knowledge of Female Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities. Shahram Moradi
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Happy and useful members of society.” Memory, activism, and collective identity among older people with disabilities in post-war Norway. Halvard Vike og Hans A. Hauge
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Recognition and independence: Youths with intellectual disabilities and their experiences with welfare services when transitioning into adulthood. Eva Lill Fossli og Hans A. Hauge
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Silent concerns. Adolescence and family relations of young people with intellectual disabilities. Eva Lill Fossli og Hans A. Hauge
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Living with an intellectual disability:
Young individuals’ reflections on the transition to adulthoodEva Lill Fossli og Hans A. Hauge -
School-to-work experiences among disabled youths combining upper secondary school and work apprenticeship: a study from Norway. Thea C. Tvedalen og Tore N. Braathen
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Innovation and testing in general practitioners’ practice–the challenging path from idea to new practice. Tore N. Braathen
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The Political Economy of Care. Welfare State Capitalism, Universalism, and Social Reproduction. Redaktør Halvard Vike
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Introduction: Welfare State Capitalism, Universalism, and Social Reproduction in Scandinavia. Book edit by Halvard Vikre
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Collaboration partners and networks
National
- Norwegian network for research on disability
- Sexuality and disability. An interdisciplinary network consisting of professionals linked to various areas of expertise in Vestfold, Norway
- Norwegian National network for health subjects for nursing education
Nordic
- Nordic Network on Disability Research
- Research Practise Network Centre of Knowledge, Uppsala, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research
International
