The year was 2006. I was about to embark on what would turn out to be a research-career-defining study. I wanted to spend time with people with a learning disability who had cancer, to try and see the world through their eyes and learn about their needs. I had written my first ever big grant proposal, and Cancer Research UK said yes, good idea, we’ll fund it. I had passed my plan by the national Research Ethics Committee, and they liked it too, especially my easy-read informa

On May 6th, I had the privilege of attending the  Sawubona National Forum , a powerful gathering dedicated to transforming palliative and end-of-life care through the lens of equity, compassion, and inclusion. The forum, named Sawubona, meaning “I see you”, opened my eyes to the deeply rooted disparities that persist in palliative and end of life care. It became clear that inequity goes far beyond access to services; it’s embedded in how care is communicated, understood, and

The other week we gathered around the talented researchers to do some training. We focused on those researchers who will be going out and learning about people’s lives and how they are supported by different services and those around them, especially when they have a life-limiting illness and may be towards the end of life. They will be going to four parts of the country and, through their engagement with people and services, developing a sense of case studies. To do this, th

Image: Irene Tuffrey-Wijne Written by Prof Irene Tuffrey-Wijne (Project Lead) I’m delighted to welcome you to the DAPPLE project, this brand-new website and our first blog post. Whoever you are, wherever you’re reading this: WELCOME! You will find plenty of information on this website, including a wonderful video presented by my colleagues with a learning disability. What is the DAPPLE project, who is doing it, why are we doing it, what will we do? Let me tell you a little bi