Why Disability Studies?

Disability Studies is an interdisciplinary field informed by the arts, humanities, and social sciences that investigates, enhances, and compliments society's understanding of disability by incorporating social, cultural, historical, political, legal and educational perspectives. There is a growing international scholarly interest in the field and University of Washington faculty, students and administrators have been involved in the development of Disability Studies for at least 10 years. As a result of recent concerted campus and community efforts, there has been increasing student and faculty interest in course work related to Disability Studies. We believe that the number of Disability Studies related courses, student interest, and faculty expertise now allow sufficient course offerings to support a Disability Studies Minor. Students who wish to satisfy the requirements described above and obtain a Disability Studies Minor would then be able to document their level of study in this new discipline.

A fact of the human experience, not the exception...

While manifestation of disability changes through time, disability itself is a constant component of human existence. Since disability is a fact of the human experience, not the exception, a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum must include the study of the experiences of disabled people. Like other oppressed groups throughout history, however, disabled people have been marginalized; this has led to minimal attention to the historical, cultural, and political/legal elements of disability. The University of Washington has shown leadership in addressing many diversity concerns on campus; however, the concerns of disabled people have received minimal attention. The effect of this neglect by higher education has been, in part, responsible for the continued discrimination towards disabled people. This is beginning to change as Disability Studies is recognized as a legitimate focus of study and increasing numbers of courses examine the human experience of disability not from the individual impairment model but from a whole systems social model perspective.

The importance of addressing disability from such an informed perspective is reiterated by the Report of the United Nations Secretary-General prepared pursuant to Sub-Commission resolution 1995/17 on Human Rights and Disability:

Through neglect, ignorance, prejudice and false assumptions, as well as through exclusion, distinction or separation, persons with disabilities have very often been prevented from exercising their economic, social or cultural rights on an equal basis with persons without disabilities. The effects of disability-based discrimination have been particularly severe in the fields of education, employment, housing, transport, cultural life, and access to public places and services.

A much-needed, pro-active approach...

The development of Disability Studies represents a much-needed pro-active educational approach to address this pervasive discrimination in our society. Establishing a Disability Studies Minor acknowledges the University's commitment to this field of study and the concomitant research, teaching and service.

The University of Washington is at the forefront of the development of Disability Studies as an academic discipline through the individual research and teaching of growing numbers of faculty across campuses and disciplines, increasing student interest in the subject area, and an expansion of traditional "diversity" efforts to include disability. Establishment of a Disability Studies Minor will provide additional opportunities for both students and faculty to explore the field.