The University of Toledo’s disability studies is the first program of its kind

Ashley King, Staff Reporter

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Disability awareness is about to become much more prominent than the blue-and-white signs. Beginning this fall semester, the University of Toledo will be the first educational institution in the country to offer a major in disability studies.

Tim Harrington, the executive director of the local Ability Center of Greater Toledo said, “It’s just like Africana studies or women’s studies. People with disabilities now have a curriculum to turn to that speaks to their issues.”

The new program’s Web page says disability studies helps students “understand the full spectrum of human variation, challenging the barriers which may prevent disabled people from participating fully in their communities by promoting the ideals of inclusion, independent living and community integration.”

While the minor has been around since 2002, creating an undergraduate disability studies major remained in planning for over a decade, according to Jamie Barlowe, dean of the College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences.

The Ability Center contributed $1.9 million to the creation of the program — and a partner to the department of disability studies.

“The money is invested at the UT Foundation and Disability students get a percentage annually to help fund a portion of the program,” Harrington said.

The Ability Center supports the creation of this first-of-its-kind program, but some work had to be done first to get the idea off the ground.

It’s just like Africana studies or women’s studies. People with disabilities now have a curriculum to turn to that speaks to their issues.”

— Tim Harrington, Executive director of the local ability center of Greater Toledo

“In order to prepare for a major in DST, we first demonstrated student interest in disability studies,” Barlowe said. “We are predicting an increase in enrollment in DST classes of over 30 percent in the next two years.”

Kim Nielsen, who serves as the acting director of the program as well as a professor, said there is “an array of students that would benefit from the program.” She said students interested in public policy, business and politics will gain skills that aid with employment.

For more information about the disability studies program, visit http://www.utoledo.edu/llss/disability/. For more information about The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, visit abilitycenter.org.

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The University of Toledo’s disability studies is the first program of its kind