Web Resources, Section 4: How do my academic/career interests intersect with disability issues?In this section are websites organized by academic and career interest areas. It is not a complete list of academic disciplines or career areas. Explore any areas that interest you within or outside of your own major area of study. Or, return to the Section 1 websites for more exploration of general topics and issues related to persons with disabilities in society. You may also choose to explore on-line journal articles in your field through the library’s on-line resources. We'd like your suggestions and feedback for these web resourcesThis is an evolving list of web resources about persons with disabilities. We welcome your suggestions for changes or additions to the list. If you know of a website with information that links your academic and career interests with the needs/issues of persons with disabilities, please share it. We ask that you email your suggestions with the words "web resource suggestions" in the subject line to Ann Fullerton(fullertona@pdx.edu).
Possible Question to Explore in your Academic/Career Interest Area
The academic/careers areas are organized in alphabetical order as follows:
Biology/Multidisciplinary SciencesThe National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (NSCDC) is a multi-disciplinary collaboration comprising leading scholars in neuroscience, early childhood development, pediatrics, and economics. Created to seize the opportunity that arose from response to the landmark report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, the Council works to build strong, informed, bipartisan leadership in both the public and private sectors to close the gap between what we know and what we do to promote successful learning, adaptive behavior, and sound physical and mental health for all young children. Through a marriage of cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific knowledge on early child development to highly sophisticated communication research methods designed to ensure accurate public understanding of that science, the NSCDC is promoting a new national dialogue focused on rethinking the meaning of both shared responsibility for children and strategic investment in their future. We are still searching for the causes of autism spectrum disorder. Here are sites that monitor current research:
BusinessINCIGHT – Resources for Self-Empowerment. The mission of this Oregon-based organization is to educate and employ persons with disabilities. Watch the great video clip that explains what they do. United States Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Business Connection. National Network of ADA Centers provides technical assistance related to the American Disabilities Act for employers. Great examples offered under “Succeeding in college and work: four students with disabilities tell their stories”. National Business & Disability Council. National Organization on Disability (NOD). The CEO council of NOD consists of America's business leaders who share NOD's commitment to expand the participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Disability Studies“…Disability Studies refers generally to the examination of disability as a social, cultural, and political phenomenon. In contrast to clinical, medical, or therapeutic perspectives on disability, Disability Studies focuses on how disability is defined and represented in society. From this perspective, disability is not a characteristic that exists in the person so defined, but a construct that finds its meaning in social and cultural context…” from: Steven J. Taylor’s introduction to disability studies. Disability Studies: Information & Resources, Syracuse University Directory of Disability Studies Programs, 2006 Center for Disability Studies, University of Leeds, England EducationCenter for Applied Special Technology (CAST): The mission of CAST is to transform education through universal design for learning. The Council for Exceptional Children is the national professional organization for special educators. Differentiating instruction, a topic within “Reading Rockets”, a site which provides information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Engineering/Computer ScienceFrom the World Disability Institute (WID): List of links to sites for assistive technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center focused on development for persons who are blind and visually impaired. Individual researchers describe their projects. DO-IT (Disability, Opportunity, Internetworking, Technology) at University of Washington. Using technology as an empowering tool for college and careers. Check on the many topics under “Resources”. Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telecommunications at University of Wisconsin. Workplace Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, Georgia Institute of Technology. Woman, minorities, and persons with disabilities in engineering. Fine and Performing ArtsNational Institute of Art & Disabilities features work of many visual artists. Northeast Center for Special Care describes fine and performing art therapy with persons with brain injuries. Go to “fine arts”, “art gallery”, and the portal to “links to fine and performing arts page.” National Arts & Disability Center at UCLA promotes the full inclusion of artists and audiences with disabilities into all facets of the arts community. See their extensive list of web links. National Endowment for the Arts: Organizations that Assist Artists with Disabilities MusicSpecial Needs in Music Web Site: A Resource for People of All Ages, Abilities and Challenges. Kaila Rochelle, a special educator and music teacher offers her ideas for teaching music to people of all ages, abilities and challenges. Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, Steinhart School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University (NYU). Nordoff-Robbins is a specialized approach to creative music therapy, in which improvisational music and an individual’s innate creativity are used in overcoming emotional, physical and cognitive difficulties. This website has additional links to video demonstrations of those technique as well as links to other programs offered that are offered. The Soundbeam: the Drake Music Project. From the website: “Drake Music provides opportunities for disabled musicians of all ages and abilities to explore, compose and perform music and brings together disabled and non-disabled artists. This is done through the innovative use of technology and by creating new ways of working and making music. The Soundbeam 2 MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), is a computerized instrument that can be played without touch. Included in the website is a link for viewing a musical performance by individuals using this technology, as well as the Soundbeam official site.” Career Choices in Special Education-National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education. This website provides information for those who may be interested in a career in Music Therapy. Topics include: the nature of the work, job outlook, education required; as well as resource information. This site also provides a link to the website for the American Music Therapy Association. DanceAxis Dance Company, Oakland, CA. From the website: “Since 1987, AXIS Dance Company has created an exciting body of work developed by dancers with and without disabilities. They are pioneers of a powerful and inclusive dance form, 'physically integrated dance'.” Infinity Dance Company. The Kitty Lunn, Artistic Director says: “While preparing for my first Broadway show in 1987, I slipped on ice, fell down a flight of stairs and broke my back. Now a paraplegic, I use a wheelchair, and work diligently on behalf of performing artists with disabilities. [] How could I dance when I couldn't walk? The thought of life without dancing was extremely depressing for me. I had to find a way to keep dancing. [] In the fall of 1995, I founded Infinity Dance Theater, a non-traditional dance company featuring dancers with and without disabilities. The Company now performs all over the world, not only doing dance concerts, but we are also committed to our educational programs. We are teaching other dance educators to bring the joy and drama of motion and movement to a new level of inclusion by expanding the boundaries of dance and changing the world's perception of what a dancer is.” The Disability Art and Culture Project, Portland, OR. From the website: “The mission of the Disability Arts and Culture Project (DACP) is to further the artistic expression of people with both hidden and visible disabilities. We view disability as a natural and valuable variation of the human form. DACP utilizes the performing arts as a method of examining disability in relation to society. Visual ArtsMouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) is an international, for-profit association wholly owned and run by disabled artists to help them meet their financial needs. Members paint with brushes held in their mouths or feet as a result of a disability sustained at birth or through an accident or illness that prohibits them from using their hands.” “VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. Two of its guiding principles are: (1) Every young person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences and (2) All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.” A juried art show entitled “Transformations” in which artists explore their experience of disabilities through their work can be viewed at the site. TheaterTheater Breaking Through Barriers, formerly Theater By The Blind, has been working for 29 years to develop blind and low vision talent for the theater, television and film. With great pride, the company has just changed its name to reflect its commitment to include all artists with disabilities in its work, onstage, backstage, in the office and in the audience. As baby boomers age, more and more Americans will be dealing with disability. 52,000,000 of us, 18%, already do. Yet only 2% of characters on television exhibit a disability and only 0.5% are allowed to speak. TBTB needs to get the reality of our rich, independent lives in front of audiences. (From their website) The mission of the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is to produce theatrically challenging work of the highest quality, drawing from as wide a range of the world’s literature as possible; to perform these original works in a style that links American Sign Language with the spoken word; to seek, train and employ Deaf artists…” (NTD Website). Foreign LanguagesCapstone students studying or planning to teach foreign languages may wish to explore how learning differences can impact the process of learning a foreign language in school. Here are some sites related to this topic. LD Online provides an article concerning students with oral and/or written language learning difficulties in their native tongue; that may have problems learning a second language at school. The website of the Center for Applied Linguistics provide information about foreign language requirements and students with learning disabilities. Considerations involved in teaching foreign languages to students with learning disabilities are also discussed. Health ProfessionsCenter for Disability Issues and the Health Profession. Literature/Writing/JournalismDisability World: A web-zine of international disability news and views. Beginning in 1986, members of the disability rights movement published a magazine called the “Disability Rag.” In 1997, that evolved into the website Ragged Edge Online Magazine. The site publishes articles and links to other news articles about the rights and experiences of persons with disabilities. A guide to children’s literature and disabilty. More on Children’s literature and disability. A list of twenty-two books on disability. Psychology
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