Post Graduate Research at Oxford: Q and A with Dr Marie Tidball
Post graduate research: Dr Marie Tidball
What is the title of your research and what is your research topic about?
I am about to start writing a book called: ‘Disabling Criminal Justice: The governance of adult defendants with autism in the English Criminal Justice System’.
How did you think of your research topic?
It is based on my DPhil in Criminology and prior experience working for an autism charity, Autism West Midlands.
What stands out to you in the research you have undertaken so far?
The need for a disability perspective in criminology.
Why do you think this research is important?
Because it is over twenty-five years since the first Disability Discrimination Act and yet disabled people are still not getting reasonable adjustments in the court process or access to justice they need.
How has your past research continued to feature in your current research interests or projects?
Everywhere. My DPhil looked at developing a theoretical perspective in criminology built on the social model of disability; this has been formative in my thinking about the law in other areas too.
How has your DPhil helped your career?
It laid a foundation for my determination to get more disability law and disability studies on the legal curriculum, across the taxonomy of the legal system, here at Oxford.
How does post-doctoral research differ from research for your DPhil?
Most of my work has been beyond criminology, looking at a wider cross-section of disability and society - including maternity rights of disabled women, access to transport, and representation in public life. The latter has included in the British TV broadcast industry and political representation in local and national government.
Where can people find out more about your work?
I have written for various relevant blogs and other writings:
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘Too often forgotten: how do we create a country that values disabled people and
closes the inequality gap we face?’, Our Other National Debt Report, available online:
https://www.ourothernationaldebt.com/disability
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘The unequal impact of the Coronavirus Act and Covid-19 on disabled people in
the UK’, Written Evidence Submission to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee
inquiry on the unequal impact of the Coronavirus Act and Covid-19 on people with protected
characteristics, Available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/227/unequal-impact-
coronavirus-covid19-and-the-impact-on-people-with-protected-characteristics/
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘Human rights implications of the Government’s response to COVID-19 on people
with disabilities in the United Kingdom’, Written Evidence Submission to the Joint Committee on
Human Rights Inquiry, available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/218/the-
governments-response-to-covid19-human-rights-implications/publications/
Tidball, M., L. Lee, A. Lawson, J. Herring, B.D. Sloan, D. Holloway, K. Mallick and R. Ryan, (2020),
An Affront to Dignity, Inclusion and Equality: Coronavirus and the impact of law, policy and
practice on people with disabilities in the United Kingdom, available online:
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-02-affront-dignity-inclusion-and-equality-coronavirus-
and-impact-law-policy-practice#:~:text=News-
Tidball, M., (2020), International Women’s Day: Time for Action to Accelerate Equal Access to
Maternity Care for Mothers with Disabilities, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, available online:
https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/time-for-action-to-accelerate-equal-access-to-maternity-care-for-mothers-
with-disabilities/
Tidball, M., (2019), ‘The Future Could Be Accessible, But Only If All Disability Shortlists Are Made
Legal’, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, available online: http://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/the-future-could-
be-accessible-but-only-if-all-disability-shortlists-are-made-legal/
Tidball, M., (2018), ‘Proposals to End Free Travel for Most Post-16 Special Educational Needs and
Disability students in Oxfordshire Limits Right to Education’, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog,
available online: https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/proposals-to-end-free-travel-for-most-post-16-special-
educational-needs-and-disability-students-in-oxfordshire-limits-right-to-education/
Tidball, M., (2018), ‘Disability and the Democratic Deficit: Why We Need All Disability Shortlists’,
available online: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/disability-
politics_uk_5a4fb2fce4b003133ec78f7c
Chair and Keynote Speaker, Disability in the Context of the Coronavirus Pandemic Webinar, The
Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, May 2020: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/events/webinar-disability-context-coronavirus-pandemic
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘Too often forgotten: how do we create a country that values disabled people and
closes the inequality gap we face?’, Our Other National Debt Report, available online:
https://www.ourothernationaldebt.com/disability
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘The unequal impact of the Coronavirus Act and Covid-19 on disabled people in
the UK’, Written Evidence Submission to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee
inquiry on the unequal impact of the Coronavirus Act and Covid-19 on people with protected
characteristics, Available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/227/unequal-impact-
coronavirus-covid19-and-the-impact-on-people-with-protected-characteristics/
Tidball, M., (2020), ‘Human rights implications of the Government’s response to COVID-19 on people
with disabilities in the United Kingdom’, Written Evidence Submission to the Joint Committee on
Human Rights Inquiry, available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/218/the-
governments-response-to-covid19-human-rights-implications/publications/
Tidball, M., L. Lee, A. Lawson, J. Herring, B.D. Sloan, D. Holloway, K. Mallick and R. Ryan, (2020),
An Affront to Dignity, Inclusion and Equality: Coronavirus and the impact of law, policy and
practice on people with disabilities in the United Kingdom, available online:
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-02-affront-dignity-inclusion-and-equality-coronavirus-
and-impact-law-policy-practice#:~:text=News-
Tidball, M., (2020), International Women’s Day: Time for Action to Accelerate Equal Access to
Maternity Care for Mothers with Disabilities, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, available online:
https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/time-for-action-to-accelerate-equal-access-to-maternity-care-for-mothers-
with-disabilities/
Tidball, M., (2019), ‘The Future Could Be Accessible, But Only If All Disability Shortlists Are Made
Legal’, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog, available online: http://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/the-future-could-
be-accessible-but-only-if-all-disability-shortlists-are-made-legal/
Tidball, M., (2018), ‘Proposals to End Free Travel for Most Post-16 Special Educational Needs and
Disability students in Oxfordshire Limits Right to Education’, Oxford Human Rights Hub Blog,
available online: https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/proposals-to-end-free-travel-for-most-post-16-special-
educational-needs-and-disability-students-in-oxfordshire-limits-right-to-education/
Tidball, M., (2018), ‘Disability and the Democratic Deficit: Why We Need All Disability Shortlists’,
available online: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/disability-
politics_uk_5a4fb2fce4b003133ec78f7c
Chair and Keynote Speaker, Disability in the Context of the Coronavirus Pandemic Webinar, The
Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, May 2020: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/events/webinar-disability-context-coronavirus-pandemic