Center on Disability Studies

2021 - 2022 Annual Report

Disability Studies Initiative

The Disability Studies Initiative (DSI) held two campus-wide workshops on the use of disability studies across the curriculum and one guest lecture. The initiative held a campus-wide film disability festival to promote interest in disability studies.

A joint initiative between the Hawai’i State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Center on Disability Studies, and the College of Social Sciences, the Disability Studies Initiative (DSI) seeks to increase awareness and cultivate excitement and conversation around disability across the arts and sciences, throughout the University of Hawai’i system, from students to faculty, staff, and administration. Furthermore, we believe this work is critical to the communities UH serves, the development of such programing and expansion of awareness improves the state of Hawai’i.

Toward these ends, the Disability Studies Initiative seeks:

To create and develop of an undergraduate certificate in disability studies, offering students the opportunity to explore disability from an interdisciplinary perspective, while also developing practical, marketable skills and promoting the University’s commitment to diversity;
To organize a colloquium series, showcasing disability studies across disciplinary boundaries in research and teaching throughout the University of Hawai’i system, in order to encourage awareness and conversation around disability as an intellectual and analytical category;
To offer training and resources to faculty, staff, and administration on texts and curriculum development, and supporting students with disabilities;
To promote diverse representation and community engagement through the Film Festival at the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability & Diversity, March 1, 2022.