News and Events
October 2009
The Eugenics and Disability symposium was a success! If you missed it, you can still view the panel presentations by national and local scholars and advocates, addressing “Disability in the History of Eugenics” and “Perspectives on the Relevance of Eugenics Today” in the archives of UW TV.
"Eugenics and Disability: History and Legacy in Washington": http://uwtv.org/webcast/Eugenics_archive_wm9.asx
For more information on the symposium and the history of eugenics in Washington, see http://eugenics.washington.edu
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September 2009
The University of Washington Disability Studies Program Presents:
"Eugenics and Disability: History and Legacy in Washington"
A one-day public symposium examining the history and significance of eugenics in Washington, which in 1909 became the second state to enact a forced sterilization law. This event will provide a forum for dialogue about the eugenic past and its current implications.
Friday, October 9, 2009
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
UW Tower Auditorium, 4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Seattle, Washington 98195
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Lunch will be provided at no cost to registered attendees.
To register and for further information, go to:
http://eugenics.washington.edu
Or contact Tammi Olson, tammio@uw.edu (email), 425-774-4446 (voice), 425-774-9303 (fax), 425-771-7438 (TTY).For information about symposium content, email Joanne Woiak, UW Disability Studies Program, jwoiak@uw.edu.
To view the live webcast, go to: http://uwtv.org/webcast/liveevent.asx
The symposium will feature panel presentations by national and local scholars and advocates, addressing “Disability in the History of Eugenics” and “Perspectives on the Relevance of Eugenics Today.” The roundtable format will include ample time for audience discussion. The intended audience includes academics, community advocates, individuals with disabilities, clinicians, service providers, policy makers, and interested members of the general public.Want to help spread the word? Download the flyer or poster for circulation.
Co-sponsors: UW Office of the Provost, UW Center for Genomics and Healthcare Equality, Seattle Children’s Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, DBTAC Northwest ADA Information Center.
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August 2009
Fall 2009 Disability Studies course:
Disability in Russian Culture, RUSS 120
M-Th 3:30-4:20, 5 credits (VLPA)
Instructor: José Alaniz
What is “disability”? What is “health”? What is “normal”? What is a “body”? This course will first examine how these questions have historically been answered in American culture. We will discuss and critique Disability Theory, the Disability Rights Movement and the representation of the disabled. Armed with these “western” concepts and insights, we then turn our attention to Russia and its cultural productions involving disability (i.e., works about the disabled or made by disabled artists), focusing on 19 th and 20 th century literature/art.
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June 2009
Fall 2009 Disability Studies course:
History of Eugenics, CHID 270B
M & W 3:30-5:20
Instructor: Joanne Woiak
Description: The American eugenics movement of the early 20th century proposed and implemented a variety of policies for "improving the biological quality of the human race." These included educational efforts such as "fitter family" contests, immigration restriction, and compulsory sterilization of those deemed genetically unfit. The history of eugenics serves as an important case study of the interactions between social values and scientific research, as well as the social construction of human differences defined by race, gender, class, and disability. The course will focus on exploring local variations in eugenics ideas and practices in the US, including Washington State which implemented one of the world's first sterilization laws in 1909. We will examine the science and scientists behind eugenics, policies and legislation, public support and opposition, connections between American and Nazi eugenics, and intersections between categories of people that eugenicists deemed "socially inadequate." We will address the persistence of eugenic ideas and activities after WWII, including the continuities and discontinuities between eugenics and modern-day genomics and genetic testing. This course has no prerequisites and is suitable for students in humanities and sciences. It counts as an elective for the Disability Studies Minor.
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May 2009
Sherrie Brown, J.D., Ed.D. named acting director
Research Professor, Educational Policy and Leadership Studies
Adjunct Faculty, School of Law
Professor Brown's interest in disability studies focuses on legal advocacy as a way to ensure that the human and civil rights of individuals with disabilities are recognized by society and realized by affected individuals. American society, including the legal system, has much to learn from the international law approach to rights. Sherrie regularly co-teaches LSJ/CHID 332 - Introduction to Disability Studies and is the instructor for LSJ/CHID 434 - Human and Civil Rights of Disabled Individuals: National and International Perspectives.
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Paul Miller joins The White House staff of President Obama!!!
Congratulations to Paul! Paul has accepted a temporary position as Special Assistant to the President. Paul will be on leave from the University of Washington and expects to return by the Start of Fall Quarter.
To quote Paul:
"I am humbled by the opportunity to serve our country and our new President at this historical moment. I will be managing the political appointments process within the Department of Justice and for lawyers throughout the new administration, including Cabinet agency General Counsels and Inspector Generals. In addition, I will also be leading the political appointments process for the Department of Education and a host of other regulatory agencies across the government. I will be also be managing the appointments process for political positions that directly impact disabled people and disability programs through the government. "
University Week Story on Dennis Lang: The Activist Behind Disability Studies at the UW!
http://uwnews.org/uweek/article.aspx?visitsource=uwkmail&id=45381
New UW student Disability advocacy and education web page
The Disability Law Alliance (DLA) is a University of Washington School of Law student organization for all students who wish to participate in a burgeoning civil rights movement. We advocate for students by providing the resources and support necessary for the best educational experience possible, one free of physical, psychological, and informational barriers. We promote the education of disability law within the law school and disability law issues in the greater Seattle community. We also aim to educate law students and beginning lawyers about the various opportunities for advocacy in areas such as the disability law field, including access to mainstream education; accommodations in facilities, education, and employment; reproductive rights; employment discrimination; estate planning; guardianship; Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security claims; and intentional torts for abuse of individuals with disabilities. For further information please visit: http://www.law.washington.edu/dla/default.html
New Political Science, Disability Studies and Public Affairs Librarian!
Congratulations to Emily Keller for being named the permanent Political Science, Disability Studies and Public Affairs Librarian! Check out her profile page at:
http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/librarians/emkeller.html
History of Eugenics class offered Fall Quarter 2008
HIST 290/CHID 270: History of Eugenics
Autumn 2008, T/Th 3:30-5:20
Instructor: Joanne Woiak
The American eugenics movement proposed and implemented a variety of policies for "improving the biological quality of the human race." These ranged from educational efforts such as "fitter family" contests to oppressive measures such as immigration restriction and compulsory sterilization of those deemed genetically unfit. The history of eugenics serves as an important case study of the influence of social values and interests on the direction of scientific research, as well as the social construction of human differences defined by race, gender, class, and disability. The course will focus especially on local variations in eugenics ideas and practices in the US, including Washington State which implemented one of the world's first sterilization laws in 1909. We will examine the science and scientists behind eugenics, legislation and other proposed policies, public support and opposition, connections between American and Nazi eugenics, and intersections between people with disabilities and other targeted categories of "socially undesirable" people. We will address the persistence of eugenic ideas and activities after WWII, including the continuities and discontinuities between eugenics and modern-day genomics and genetic testing. This course has no prerequisites and is suitable for students in humanities and sciences.
Disability Studies On Display in Suzzallo
The next time you're in Suzzallo Library, stop by and check out the Disability Studies display put together by Emily Keller, Political Science and Public Affairs Librarian. It's on the first floor, near the reference desk."
U.S. Census Bureau Issues Facts for Features in Observance of Americans with Disabilities Act
Business Wire has an interesting article with facts and figures published by the Census Bureau. You can find it at: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?
ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=
20080717005752&newsLang=en
"Dennis Lang Student Award in Disability Studies"
The "Dennis Lang Student Award in Disability Studies" was announced by Professor Paul Miller, Director of the UW Disability Studies Program, at the "Framing Legal and Human Rights Strategies for Change: A Case Study of Disability Rights in Asia," symposium.
The Disability Studies Program at the University of Washington, together with members of the Disability Community throughout Washington State, have established and endowed the "Dennis Lang Student Award in Disability Studies." We've done this to to honor the steadfast leadership of Dennis in pursuing a strong and growing disability studies presence throughout all of the University of Washington campuses. The award will be made available each year to a UW undergraduate student and/or graduate student who demonstrate excellence in disability studies. We know many of you have worked with, and continue to collaborate with Dennis on many fronts. We invite you to join us in helping this critical scholarship grow in the Northwest.
Checks can be made out to the UW Foundation (memo line: Lang student award) and mailed to UW Foundation, Box 358240, Seattle, WA 98195); on-line donations accepted at http://uwfoundation.org , or by phone at 1-877-894-4387 (specify Lang student award).
Rosemarie Garland-Thomson to Speak as Part of the Disability Awareness Week Activities (May 19 - 23, 2008)
Thursday, May 22nd
11:00am - 1:00pm "Integrating Disability Studies into the University" - HUB 310
5:30pm - 7:00pm "Picturing People with Disabilities" - Johnson 102
Rosemarie Garland-Thomson is Professor of Women's Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her fields of study are feminist theory, American literature, and disability studies. Her scholarly and professional activities are devoted to developing the field of disability studies in the humanities and in women's studies. She is the author of Staring: How We Look (Oxford UP, forthcoming 2008), Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Literature and Culture (Columbia UP, 1997); editor of Freakery: Cultural Spectacles of the Extraordinary Body (NYU Press, 1996), and co-editor of Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities (MLA Press, 2002). She is currently writing a book called Cure or Kill: The Cultural Logic of Euthanasia , which traces eugenic thought through American literature. Professor Garland-Thomson will be speaking:
Disability Awarenes Week Activities are sponsored by the ASUW Student Disability Commission & Co-sponsored by the ASUW Women's Action Committee. Other events:
Kelly from Babeland: Sexability - Disability and Sex
Monday, May 19th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Mary Gates Hall 082A
Joelle Bruner: ADA Restoration Act
Tuesday, May 20th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
HUB 204N
"BODY" - Art and Disability
Wednesday, May 21th 1:00pm - 3:00pm
HUB 209A
Celebration Party
Friday, May 23rd 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Mary Gates Hall 295