Ana Laura Aiello
University of Leeds, Law, Post-Doc
- I am from Argentina, and studied law at the University of Buenos Aires. Since 2001 I have been working internationally, based in Spain and afterwards in the United Kingdom. I worked in various research projects on human rights and disability including Amnesty International, Disability Rights International and CHANGE. I received several honors and awards f... moreI am from Argentina, and studied law at the University of Buenos Aires. Since 2001 I have been working internationally, based in Spain and afterwards in the United Kingdom. I worked in various research projects on human rights and disability including Amnesty International, Disability Rights International and CHANGE. I received several honors and awards for my work.
I am passionate about bridging the gap between the theory and the practice. I have a solid experience of applying creative methodologies for making the human rights of disabled people a reality.
I completed my PhD at the University of Leeds (School of Law). Employing socio-legal research empirical methods, my thesis explores the potential of strategic litigation for tackling human rights violations happening in institutional residential settings for people with intellectual disability in Europe. Currently I am developing participatory action research about employment and people with intellectual disability. I am based at the English human rights organisation CHANGE and working in partnership with the University of Leeds (Business School).
I also develop international consultancy regarding the human rights of disabled people. My last publications include Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. I have co-authored a book, and published numerous research reports, book chapters and a journal article.edit - Professor Anna Lawson (University of Leeds, School of Law) , Professor Mark Priestley (University of Leeds, School of Sociology and Social Policy)edit
This chapter includes a detailed review of some of the most relevant legal instruments that can be employed for enforcing the human rights of disabled people. It offers an analysis of selected international legal instruments (such as the... more
This chapter includes a detailed review of some of the most relevant legal instruments that can be employed for enforcing the human rights of disabled people. It offers an analysis of selected international legal instruments (such as the United Nations Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care) and European legal instruments (such as the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms).
Research Interests:
This journal article addresses the conceptual delimitation and scoping of the idea of universal accessibility, as enshrined in the Spanish legal system. It acknowledges the social model of disability and the human rights discourse as... more
This journal article addresses the conceptual delimitation and scoping of the idea of universal accessibility, as enshrined in the Spanish legal system. It acknowledges the social model of disability and the human rights discourse as essential for shaping the analysis. The potential legal configurations of the idea of universal accessibility are explored under the light of the Spanish constitutional framework. Finally, this journal article suggests some options for solving conflicts revolving around the concept of accessibility.
Research Interests:
The Office of the National Director for Learning Disabilities commissioned CHANGE to conduct research into national best practice in independent advocacy for parents with intellectual disability. This work was commissioned in the context... more
The Office of the National Director for Learning Disabilities commissioned CHANGE to conduct research into national best practice in independent advocacy for parents with intellectual disability. This work was commissioned in the context of this office’s commitment to explore with other government departments, ways to further support or develop independent advocacy for parents with intellectual disability. The final report revises the literature about this very particular type of advocacy, and includes new evidence provided by this research. Some conclusions and recommendations are offered as the result of this research.
Research Interests:
This research was co-written with Mrs Catherine Carter. She is a mother with intellectual disability, and her personal experience of being a disabled mother was vital for the research. The first section of the report offers the context... more
This research was co-written with Mrs Catherine Carter. She is a mother with intellectual disability, and her personal experience of being a disabled mother was vital for the research. The first section of the report offers the context for the research. The next section includes the experiences of women with intellectual disability as users of maternity services in Leeds. Afterwards, the report addresses the difficulty for finding these participants and offers some preliminary answers. Finally, some conclusion and recommendations are suggested. It is very important to mention that part of the findings of this research have been made into Easy Read (including Easy Read words and pictures) for mothers with intellectual disability.