Project Description:
During the past year, the UCEDD?s Disability Studies Initiative (DSI) under the leadership of co-chairs Deborah Olson and Heidi von Ravensberg continued to work on its key goals. However, since the Williams fund proposal was rejected for the third time, the goal of resubmitting this proposal has been suspended. We determined that our main goal should be to build more academic support for disability studies across campus. The activities described below are an attempt to build more grass roots support.
Teaching Activities
Disability Law Class. In 2008, collaboration between the UO Law School and College of Education (COE) resulted in the approval of a new class in disability law that targets COE doctoral students and law students. The course is being taught for the fourth time spring semester 2011 by DS co-chair, Heidi von Ravensberg, JD, MBA of our UCEDD staff.
International Disability Film Class. Outreach to allies across campus resulted in the development of an experimental class entitled INTL 410: International Film, Disability and Youth, taught spring term 2010. This collaboration between Deborah Olson and Kathie Carpenter, professor, International Studies, was a success with both faculty and students. The class has been scheduled for spring term, 2011, as SPED 410: International Film, Disability and Youth. To increase its visibility, it will be held at the Mills International Center in the Erb Memorial Union and billed as an international film festival for the public. The Mills Center will publicize the event throughout campus and community. It will have a class format (20 students enrolled), but the post-film discussion will be open to both student and public participation.
Equal Opportunity: Disability, EDST 410/510. Deborah Olson was asked to teach a course on disability as a social construction in education by the Dept. of Education Studies, College of Education. This course was taught winter term, 2011 and had 4 master?s students and 9 undergraduate students enrolled.
Foundations of Disability II, SPED 412-512. Deborah Olson continues to teach this course as an introduction to Disability Studies and the social construction of disability. It is a required course of the minor in special education.
Collaboration Activities
Students. DSI faculty continue to build support and collaboration with the newly formed student union for students with disabilities. There are 10-12 students in the core group. DSI faculty have attended student meetings to build awareness of DS. We have extended an invitation for student representatives to attend DSI Advisory Committee meetings and have subscribed a number of students to the DSI listserv. Likewise, we are on the students? listserv.
Collaboration with Dance Scholar. Deborah Olson is collaborating with a Fulbright scholar from Columbia who is interested in the intersection of dance and ability. She has an integrated dance company in her native country and is working with an American integrated dance company in Eugene. She is enrolled in SPED 512: Foundations of Disability II to learn more about disability studies. She will also be submitting a grant proposal to the Center for Latino Studies to integrate dance, ability, and international communities in which Deborah Olson and the dean of Architecture and Allied Arts, Frances Bronet, will contribute their expertise.
Collaboration with the Teaching Effectiveness Program. The DSI co-chairs served on an advisory committee to assist TEP to develop a comprehensive website on Universal Design.
Collaboration with Disability Services. Heidi von Ravensberg presented at the 2010 Summer Institute on campus climate for students with learning disabilities which is a joint project of the Office for Students with Disabilities and Chris Murray, Associate Professor, Special Education and Clinical Services.
Collaboration with Graduate Architecture Students. Heidi von Ravensberg is collaborating with two graduate students in Architecture who are conducting research under the direction of Professor Virginia Cartwright on stairwell lighting for the visually impaired. Currently, codes concerning stairwell lighting are vague and incomplete and the end goal of their study is to provide design guidelines for lighting stairs. Heidi is providing contacts with the visually impaired community to serve as study participants and providing guidance on legal standards.
Other Outreach
DSI Web Site. Work continued on the DSI web site to update information and links and to place a greater emphasis on UO DS offerings and accomplishments. The effort continues to design and maintain the pages following principles of accessibility.
The Disability Studies Initiative is looking for co-sponsors to bring a major scholar of disability studies to the UO campus in 2011-2012.
Future goals
The DSI goals for 2010/11 are to continue working on the key goals described above and continuing to build allies across campus and the community.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Adults with Disabilities, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English
