This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of Palestinian young people with disabilities, particularly in education, employment, and social participation through a participatory action research approach. Researchers from Birzeit University used this approach to work with a group of young people with disabilities living in a refugee camp in the West Bank. The research team worked with nine young people with different types of disabilities, including physical, learning, and visual disabilities. The group consisted of four young men and five young women, aged between 18–32. The research was carried out from September 2022 to March 2024.
The study included several components, with PAR group members actively involved in all components. Initial meetings focused on strengthening their roles as co-researchers while fostering group cohesion and interaction. Subsequent sessions explored participants’ lived experiences in accessing education, employment, and social participation. A variety of interactive methods were employed, including group discussions, small-group activities, and, when needed, individual-focused exercises to accommodate members with learning difficulties who might feel more comfortable expressing themselves individually.
The second phase included preparations to conduct interviews with other young people with disabilities in order to extend the understanding beyond the experiences of the group members themselves. This phase involved co-development of an interview guide derived from the group members’ reported experiences, followed by multiple rounds of piloting the questions among the group members. After finalizing the guide, co-researchers received training in interviewing techniques as well as ethical considerations. Group members then co-conducted twenty interviews with young men and women with different types of disabilities, taking the role of main interviewers. The co-analysis phase involved collectively identifying the main themes emerging from the interviews and examining similarities and differences between the experiences of the group members and those of the interviewees.
Another component of the research involved co-mapping local organizations working with people with disabilities in order to produce a directory of such organizations in the West Bank. The group’s experience in navigating services, along with the information they identified as important based on their needs and lived experiences, were integrated into the directory.
As the work with the PAR group evolved over time, the research team responded to the group’s desire to receive psychosocial support, given the compounded burden of chronic exposure to Israeli political violence, living in a refugee camp, and having a disability. This need was addressed by recruiting a counsellor specializing in art therapy, who co-facilitated group meetings and worked to enhance members’ self-esteem and self-confidence. Additionally, the art therapist helped the group design their intervention: a video-recorded drama sketch using hand puppets. The sketch conveyed the group members’ aspirations and demands, including access to decent employment opportunities suited to their disabilities, as well as the need for medical and assistive devices, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, and environmental adaptations.
To document the process, the research team regularly collected the group’s reflections on the PAR experience through discussions and analyzed the discussion notes using a thematic analysis approach. Toward the end of the group sessions, the main themes were shared with the group for validation and confirmation.
According to the group’s evaluation, the participatory approach enabled members to freely express their ideas and views. The sessions provided members with enthusiasm and happiness, created opportunities to leave their homes, and offered stress relief, particularly for young women in the group. Participants also reported increased confidence, a stronger sense of responsibility, and feelings of empowerment.
At the collective level, co-researchers shared experiences, gained insights from each other, and expressed themselves openly without concerns about violating confidentiality. Interviewing other young people with disabilities helped them develop their interviewing skills, learn about their own abilities, and deepen their understanding of the experiences of other young people with disabilities. They also perceived their group intervention as a powerful and enjoyable way to express their ideas.
Throughout the process, the main researchers learned several lessons. The PAR approach brings new understandings that may not be possible through traditional research methods. The approach requires flexibility and continuous adaptation to participants’ evolving needs. PAR is unique and requires mutual learning and reflection. It highlights the importance of creating a supportive environment, ensuring participants’ comfort throughout the process, and making every effort to include all group members. It also requires addressing tensions among participants in ways that prevent harm to any group member.