Biography - Lou Townson

I have been involved in research for many years. I started out doing this when we were asked to go to a local Adult Training Centre which was being dispersed to find out what people who attended wanted. At the time I did not recognise that this was research, but went on to be a key member and now a Director of the Carlisle People First Research Team Ltd.

Since then, I have been involved with inclusive research and a lot of partnership working. I think this is essential as most research is done by professionals and the findings are not made very public.

At the moment I am also a Director of People First Independent Advocacy in Cumbria and involved with the Social History of Learning Disability group at The Open University, which I really enjoy. I went to Iceland in May 2006 as part of the Grundtvig project which was really exciting. I have been involved with book editing and reviewing articles for the British Journal of Learning Disabilities and making recommendations. I am now co-book reviews editor for them as well as being on the University of Manchester Partnership Steering Group.

I really enjoy all aspects of research and as long as I can continue for many more years, I will be happy.

Publications

Forthcoming

• Chapman, R. and Tilley, E. with Townson, L. (2014) Advocacy in Health and Social Care: A Critical Introduction, Palgrave.
• Chapman, R. Townson, L., Docherty, D. and SHLD (2014) Intimacy and oppression: Sexuality and Relationships in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, Jessica Kingsley.

Recent

• Chapman. R. and Townson, L.  (2012) 'Researching Together: pooling ideas, strengths and experiences.' In Better Health in Harder Times: active citizens and innovation on the frontline, Bristol, The Policy Press.
• Townson, L., Chapman, R., Blyth, C., Hughes, R., Blunt, C., Hayward, D., Frost, L. and Perry, B. (2012) 'Special Issue on the research and work of people with learning disabilities and their allies and supporters', British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 40, no. 2.
• Harkness, E., Townson, L., Docherty, A., Dias, J., Brownlee- Chapman, C., Eardley, M., and Chapman, R. (2012) 'Keeping Wartime Memory Alive: an oral history project about the wartime memories of people with learning difficulties in Cumbria', Disability and Society, Vol. 27, Issue 1, pp. 31-49.
• Carlisle People First Research Team (2011 ) 'What do people labelled with learning difficulties think about their access to direct payments?', Learning Disability Today: Research Unpacked.

Previous

• Harkness, E., Townson, L., Docherty, A., Dias, J., Eardley, M., Macauley, S. and Chapman, R. (2007) 'Carlisle People First Research Team: Project on Advocacy and Autism', Disability and Society, Vol. 22; 5, pp. 523-536.
• Mitchell, D., Traustadottir, R., Chapman, R., Townson, L., Ingham, N. and Ledger, S. (2006) Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Rolph, S., Atkinson, D., Nind, M., Welshman, J., Brigham, .L, Chapman, R., Ingham, N., Ledger, S. and Walmsley, J. (2005) Witnesses to Change: Families, Learning Difficulties and History, Kidderminster, BILD.
• Shoeters, L., Schelfhout, P., Roets, G., van Hove, G., Townson, L., Chapman, R. and Buchanan, I. (2005) 'Partnership working between university researchers and self-advocacy organizations: A way forward for inclusion?'. In 'England and 'Fine feathers make a fine bird' in Flanders', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 9(4), pp. 345-357.
• Townson, L., Macauley, S., Harkness, E., Chapman, R., Docherty, A., Dias, J., Eardley, M. and McNulty, N. (2004) "We are all in the same boat: doing 'people-led research'", British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 32, pp. 72-76.
• Townson, L. (2004) ‘There is no such word as ‘can’t’: My Story'. [Unpublished book].
• Chapman, R., Spedding, F., Harkness, E., Townson, L., Docherty, A. and McNulty, N. (2002) 'The Role of Self Advocacy: stories from a self advocacy groups from the experiences of its members', Advocacy and Learning Disability, Jessica Kingsley, pp. 137-151.
• Townson, L. (2002) 'The History of Carlisle People First (Part one)', Values Into Action News, Issue 107, Summer 2002.
• Carlisle People First Research Group (2001) 'Planning a Project: Looking at the History of Self-Advocacy Groups', Community Living, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 25-27.