About the Disability Studies Initiative

Disability Studies is a cross-disciplinary examination of disability in society. The perspectives of various disciplines, such as architecture, history, law, literature, philosophy and sociology are used to understand the intersection of personal perspective, social identity, and cultural understandings. This occurs in contexts similar to those created in American Studies, Multi-Cultural Studies and Women's Studies. Many have argued that our understanding of disability from a cultural point of view is as important to our understanding of what it means to be human as is gender and race.

Disability Studies is an emerging academic field with support from professional organizations (e.g. Society for Disability Studies), academic journals (e.g. Disability Studies Quarterly, Journal of Disability Policy Studies, and Disability & Society), and internet sites (e.g. Disability Studies in the Humanities). Currently, several institutions of higher learning offer a degree or concentration in Disability Studies (e.g., Syracuse University and University of Illinois at Chicago).

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities is in a position to promote and nurture a disability studies program at the University of Oregon. We are building on a previous initiative under Dr. Phil Ferguson who is no longer at the university. Our activities over the next 5 years will include:

1. Developing a Disability Studies advisory committee across several disciplines.
2. Creating awareness of disability issues across the campus that will stimulate interest in a Disability Studies program.
3. Developing and implementing a Disability Studies minor within the College of Education's special education program.
4. Developing a graduate certification program consisting of 18-22 credits of upper division and graduate courses.

This effort will be coordinated by Deborah Olson, Ph.D. who teaches one of the existing College of Education courses considered to be oriented toward disabilities studies, Foundations of Disability II and Heidi von Ravensberg, JD, MBA.

Contact: Deborah Olson at dlolson@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-2483.

Contact: Heidi von Ravensberg at hvr@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-2472.