The research group How to do things with disability (DOABLE) includes a range of research projects that explore how disability can be performative - or productive - in society, education, culture (as a wide concept), and in research. How can disability do things: change education towards a place where difference is seen as valuable, open spaces of equity, and inspire brave non-ableist participatory designs?

In 1955 language philosopher Austin used the term ‘performative’ in 1955 as part of his lecture series ‘How to do things with words’ to point to the act-like character of language. He argued that, under certain conditions, utterances produce realities beyond the realm of language. In other words, he argued that language is not only reality-describing but also performative: under some conditions, language is reality-producing; words can produce new realities.

This research group takes inspiration from Austin, and asks: How to do things with disability? In this, we see disability as a productive agent with the right to have real influence and real impact on society, education, culture and research. The research group consists of researchers and professionals with and without disabilities, joined around the goal to resist and challenge ableism – discrimination on the basis of disability – at all levels in educational, cultural, organizational, and research structures. In a series of work packages, research projects are designed and carried out to have impact in a range of societal, educational, cultural and artistic venues.