Student Accomplishments
Through course work, independent studies, thesis or dissertation research, internships at the School of Education's disability centers and institutes, or the College of Law clinics, students examine a range of issues confronting people with disabilities, including cultural representations of disability, deinstitutionalization and community integration, current trends and controversies, advocacy and self-advocacy, the sociology of disability, race and disability, community and family support services, media images of disability, gender and disability, and disability policy. In addition, students are exposed to social, historical, and philosophical perspectives as well as strategies for policy analysis, program evaluation, and community education.
Both Master's and doctoral students are prepared to play leadership roles in the field of disability. For master's students, future careers include administrative and policy positions in community service agencies, advocacy organizations, independent living centers, parent centers, planning councils, and government agencies. Doctoral students are prepared for a variety of academic, research, and policy positions. Although all students receive training in Disability Studies, each student's program of study is different, depending on individual backgrounds and interests. For example, students interested in the public administration and policy are directed to courses and faculty in Syracuse University's Maxwell School, and those interested in gender are encouraged to pursue studies in Syracuse's Women's Study program and the Gender and Education concentration within Cultural Foundations of Education. Students are prepared to conduct research and teach courses in both Disability Studies and at least one additional academic discipline.
Awards
- Liat Ben-Moshe, 2009-2010 Departmental Dissertation Fellowship, Department of Sociology, Syracuse University.
- Jeremy L. Brunson, Ph.D., 2009 Irving K. Zola Award for Emerging Scholars in Disability Studies.
Books, Articles, Monographs, Publications
Ben-Moshe, L. (2005). Building an inclusive development community [Book review]. Review of Disability Studies (RDS), 1(4), 91-92.
Ben-Moshe, L. (2005). Resource guide. In L. Ben-Moshe, M. Feldbaum, R. Cory, & K. Sagendorf (Eds.), Building pedagogical curb cuts: Incorporating disability in the university classroom and curriculum (pp. 185-199). Syracuse, NY: Graduate School, Syracuse University PDF version available at http://gradschpdprograms.syr.edu/resources/publications-books.php.
Ben-Moshe, L. (2006, Spring). Infusing disability in the curriculum: The case of Saramago's Blindness. Theme: Education. Disability Studies Quarterly, 26(2).
Ben-Moshe, L., & Colligan, S. (Eds.). (in press). International section: The state of disability in Israel/Palestine. Disability Studies Quarterly.
Ben-Moshe, L., Feldbaum, M., Cory, R. and Sagendorf, K. (Eds.). (2005). Building pedagogical curb cuts: Incorporating disability in the university classroom and curriculum. Syracuse, NY: Graduate School, Syracuse University. PDF version available at http://gradschpdprograms.syr.edu/resources/publications-books.php.
Ben-Moshe, L., Hill, D., Nocell II, A. J, & Templer, B. (2009). Dis-abling capitalism and an anarchism of “radical equality” in resistance to ideologies of normalcy. In R. Amster, A. DeLeon, L. Fernandez, A. J. Nocella II, & D. Shannon (Eds.), Contemporary anarchist studies: An introductory anthology of anarchy in the academy (pp. 113-122). New York: Routledge.
Ben-Moshe, L., & Powell, J. W. (2007) Sign of our times? Revis(it)ing the International Symbol of Access. Disability & Society, 22(5), 489-505.
Boeltzig, H., & Suzuki, M. (2008, July). English Language Resources Related to Disability and Disability Studies in Japan. In M. Suzuki, O. Nagase, & H. Boeltzig (Eds.), International section: Disability Studies in Japan. Disability Studies Quarterly, 28(3). Retrieved August 6, 2008 from http://www.dsq-sds.org/DPubS?service=Repository&version=1.0&verb=Disseminate&view=body&content-type=html_1&handle=osul.dsq/1217618496#.
Rossetti, Z., Ashby, C., Ardnt, K., Chadwick, M., & Kasahara, M. (in press). "I like others to not try to fix me": Recognizing and supporting the agency of individuals labeled with autism. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Preston, D. (in review). Cultural intersections: Parenthood, disability and the movies. Journal of Marriage and Family.
Sinecka, J. (2007, Winter/Spring). Disability law in the Czech Republic: A case study. Disability Studies Quarterly, 27(1-2). Available: http://www.dsq-sds.org/_articles_html/2007/winter/sinecka_disabilitylaw-czech.asp.
Sinecka, J. (2008, August). 'I am bodied'. 'I am sexual'. 'I am human'. Experiencing deafness and gayness: a story of a young man. Disability & Society, 23(5), 475-484.
Sinecka, J. (2008). Czech Republic: Empowerment of D/deaf community through education (1945-2006). In S. Gabel & S. Danforth (Eds.), Disability studies in education: An international reader [Disability Studies in Education]. New York : Peter Lang.
Sinecka, J. (2009, March). The Czech Republic: Report on the current state of disability law and policy. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 19(4), 195-203.
Suzuki, M. (2008, July). Review of M. Shinohara. (1986). Ideological critiques of the mainstream special education discourse on "protecting the educational rights of children with disabilities": Focusing on human reciprocity, or ensuring development? ["Syogaiji-no-kyoiku-ken" shiso-hihan: Kankei-no-sozo-ka hattatu-no-hosyo-ka]. In M. Suzuki, O. Nagase, & H. Boeltzig (Eds.), International section: Disability Studies in Japan. Disability Studies Quarterly, 28(3). Retrieved August 6, 2008 from http://www.dsq-sds.org/DPubS?service=Repository&version=1.0&verb=Disseminate&view=body&content-type=html_1&handle=osul.dsq/1217618495#.
Suzuki, M., Nagase, O., & Boeltzig, H. (Eds.). (2008, July). International Section: Disability Studies in Japan. Disability Studies Quarterly, 28(3).
Courses Taught
Liat Ben-Moshe, SOC/EDU/WSP 400, Images of Disability, Fall 2006, Syracuse University--One might think that disability can only be scarcely found in popular culture. However, think how many fairytales, TV shows, news stories, movies and novels portray people with disabilities or use some form of disability (blindness, leprosy, deformed body, deafness, autism etc.) to convey a certain message. These varied representations raise a number of questions that will be addressed throughout the course. We will explore the origin of disability imagery by learning about the history of disability in the US (eugenics, institutionalization, charity, freak shows, civil rights, welfare, disability culture); and the ideology that constructs disability (Normalcy, capitalism, individualism, pity, pride).
Daniel Preston, ENG 380, NARRATIVES OF IDENTITY, SUMMER 2008, SUNY Oswego--This course, traditionally taught from a perspective that pays respect to one or more of the well founded identity categories (race, gender, and sexuality among others) now takes a look at the still emerging field of Disability Studies. Readings and discussions will include some critical pieces by the leaders in the field, as well as student analyses of films from a disability studies perspective.
Jitka Sinecka (with Celestia Ohrazda), IDE600/SPE600 Assistive Technologies: Supporting Students’ Learning Needs, Summer 2008, Syracuse University--This course explores assistive technologies (AT) for children and adults with disabilities and their implementation potential in and beyond classroom. This class is very interactive with extensive hands-on training and practical usage of assistive technology software and devices in educational and extra-curricular processes. Students will learn about available assistive technology devices and software that help improve communication, literacy, physical access, mobility, or computer access and that can assist learners with diverse needs.
Degrees Received
Dissertations Defended
- Jeremy Brunson, March 19, 2008, "The Practice and Organization of Sign Language Interpreting? An Institutional Ethnography of Access"
Grants
—Ted Finlayson-Schuler—Easter Seals Transporation Grant.
Presentations
- Daniel Preston, 2007, Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Conference: "The Next Frontier: Star Trek As A Model for Disability Representation"
- Jitka Sinecka, 2008, Breakout Session 3.4: Mobility, City to City, Story to story, Society for Disability Studies "Physical, social and virtual access: Cosmopolitan postcards from Prague and New York City"
- Liat Ben-Moshe, 2008, Breakout Session 8.1: Disability Studies Across the Academy: Graduate Student Showcase, Society for Disability Studies, "Dare to Compare? Politics of Abolition in Prisons and Institutions"
Other Accomplishments
- Liat Ben-Moshe has been elected to the SDS Board