The Disability Studies website provides a forum and focal point for Disability Studies at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. It is one of the components of the embryonic unit for Disability Studies within the Department of Behavioural Sciences. The unit consists of teaching, research and public information. Currently the website serves as the public information component.

Background:

In 2004 the Social Work Unit of the Department of Behavioural Sciences held a Think-tank on the integration of persons with disabilities. This project began the development of Social Disabilities Studies at The University of the West Indies. The first activity was the introduction of a Social Disability Studies course as a new elective to the Social Work Unit.

All students of the University are eligible to undertake this course of study. The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to Disability Studies for students of the University of the West Indies who wish to examine disability using theoretical frames and to understand policy development in this area.

The Social Disability Studies course is designed to sensitize students to the marginalization and discrimination experienced by the disabled within an unadaptive society.  It examines the interaction of persons with disabilities within the existing political, social, cultural and legal system.

The second activity relates to the establishment of a research agenda. Beginning with a partnership with the Leonard Cheshire Home, the Social Disability Class hosted a “National Seminar on Disability”. This was followed up with current research on the integration of persons with disabilities into society.

Aims of the programme:

1. To promote inclusiveness amongst our diverse population.
2. To assist in helping others appreciate the range of abilities that we all possess.
3. To assist in helping the University’s campus to be better prepared for the students with disabilities who are currently part of the student body and the anticipated increase in such students on the campus.

Directory:

Co-ordinator: Dr. Innette Cambridge, Ph.D. Social Policy Co-ordinator - Social Policy Programme

Part-Time Lecturer: Ms. Maria D Thomas, B. Ed., M.Ed.  Special Education

Research Assistant/ Tutor: Ms. Jacqueline Huggins, B.Sc. Social Work, M.Sc. Sociology

Tutor: Mrs. Teresina Sieunarine B.Sc, M. E.d. UWI St. Augustine

Website: http://sta.uwi.edu/disabilitystudies/

Email: disabilitystudies@fss.uwi.tt

Downloads

• Social Disability Study Marketing Brochure