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Recent health care policy directives advocate partnerships between researchers and service users in setting the research agenda and conducting research. This paper seeks to explore the meaning and reality of user participation from the perspective of a parent-carer and his experiences of being involved in three recent research projects. Important issues, such as the need for practical and emotional support and respect for user partners, are discussed alongside key questions for participants, including, what's in it for me? Drawing these ideas together, the authors' highlight four broad issues and recommendations to inform and guide the further progress of participatory research within health and social care.

The Messages from The Family Fund Trust research project examined issues of key importance to families with a disabled child. This short paper discusses the importance of involving service users in research and presents key findings and recommendations to arise from the project.

This short paper calls for greater awareness of disabled refugees and asylum seekers living in Britain. Currently, policy makers, many refugee communities and the disability movement fail to consider disabled refugees and asylum seekers, perhaps because they constitute a minority about whom data are rarely available. Focussing on the particular combination of circumstances affecting disabled refugees and asylum seekers, this paper presents recent changes in support arrangements for refugees and asylum seekers. The paper also calls for greater involvement in refugee issues by the disability movement.