Anna Chalachanova

Anna Chalachanova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health at VID University College, Norway. Her academic work centers on disability research, inclusive methodologies, and citizenship studies, with a primary focus on people with intellectual disabilities across Norway, Slovakia, and Great Britain.

Her research spans inclusive research practices, citizenship frameworks for people with intellectual disabilities, higher education accessibility, sexual citizenship, religious inclusion, and protective care. She investigates how intellectual disabilities intersect with everyday citizenship experiences, voting rights, educational participation, and personal assistance services through participatory and co-creative methodologies that prioritize disabled voices.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals consistent thematic focus on citizenship and inclusion, with methodological emphasis on participatory research. Key trends include comparative studies between Norway and Slovakia, sexual citizenship barriers within personal assistance systems, and higher education experiences for intellectually disabled students. Her work demonstrates strong commitment to amplifying marginalized perspectives through narrative and co-created research approaches.

Chalachanova actively contributes to multiple research initiatives including the ongoing PATHWAYS project (Faculty of Social Sciences) examining vulnerable institutional pathways for youth, and "To allow in" focused on barrier reduction for people with intellectual disabilities. Completed projects include "Higher education for people with intellectual disabilities" and "My vote counts too!" which evaluated voting participation mechanisms. These projects involve collaborations across Norwegian institutions, Slovakia, and Great Britain.

Based in VID University College's Department of Health, she operates within interdisciplinary teams addressing disability inclusion through international partnerships. Her work connects Norwegian higher education contexts with Slovakian comparative frameworks, driving initiatives that transform citizenship practices and educational access for people with intellectual disabilities through evidence-based interventions.