Friday, February 7, 2025
56.7 F
Roseville

New College Program for Disability Studies

If not for happening upon a scholarly journal in 1989, Dr. Jim Ferris today likely wouldn’t be heading the disability studies department at the University of Toledo.

In a telephone interview, Ferris said, “I was looking for another journal when I found the Journal of Social Issues, which had a special issue on disability studies. It was a transforming experience reading it because I suddenly realized all the little social things that had been going on around me my entire life had really been happening, even though my parents had always said, ‘They really aren’t staring at you or treating you (a certain way).’ Reading that journal helped me (validate) my experience, and also that disability studies was a field worthy of study.”

Next spring, pending state approval, the University of Toledo will become the first U.S. college to offer a non-online undergraduate degree in disability studies. The U.S. has about 35 graduate-level programs in disability studies.

Ferris, now in his late 50s, grew up with proximal femoral focal deficiency, which led to about a dozen leg surgeries before he reached age 16. It severely affected his ability to walk, and today he wears a leg brace and walks with a limp. Also, his brother was born with Down syndrome.

As for disability studies, he said, “In a way, (the field of) disability studies grew as a response to things like kids being taunted in schools, which is just one instance of a culture-wide attitude toward people with disabilities that makes it acceptable today to treat people with disabilities as lesser.”

Ferris said the social environment had improved for people with disabilities over the last 30 years, but much work remained. He particularly panned the medical model of diagnosing, which tends to encourage society to view a person’s diagnosis rather than their being a human being first.

The medical diagnosing of disability also tends to pit groups of people with disabilities against each other, he said, such as when one group gets a government benefit and another doesn’t. It also pits people with disabilities against people without any disabilities, which can lead to resentment and social discrimination.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 finally came about, said Ferris, when “disability advocates across the different diagnostic categories began realizing they had more in common than not, and could fight towards a common cause leading to societal change.”



Brighter Side

Trending

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier this weekend

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

Lowest Gas Prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to push higher above the $4 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County. Roseville consistently remains the low price leader while Rocklin and Lincoln residents consistently pay higher energy costs across the board.

Beryozka – European Market in Rocklin

Beryozka European Market in Rocklin, Calif.

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville. Our goal is to provide a fantastic experience for our guests. We use the best ingredients to create all of our authentic Mexican dishes.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy

As we age, we approach the "pausal" years. For women, it's known as Menopause. For men, it's known as Andropause. During these transitional times in life, it's as if the sex glands go into retirement and there can be a lot of changes,

Topics

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier this weekend

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

Lowest Gas Prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to push higher above the $4 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County. Roseville consistently remains the low price leader while Rocklin and Lincoln residents consistently pay higher energy costs across the board.

Beryozka – European Market in Rocklin

Beryozka European Market in Rocklin, Calif.

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville. Our goal is to provide a fantastic experience for our guests. We use the best ingredients to create all of our authentic Mexican dishes.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy

As we age, we approach the "pausal" years. For women, it's known as Menopause. For men, it's known as Andropause. During these transitional times in life, it's as if the sex glands go into retirement and there can be a lot of changes,

Placer Conservation Authority takes step toward securing 4,245 acres of land easement acquisitions north of Lincoln

Auburn, Calif. - Approximately 4,245 acres of prime farmland, natural open space and environmental resources north of Lincoln is a step closer to being secured in perpetuity as part of the Placer County Conservation Program.

Boot Juice and Blü Egyptian in Auburn at Foothills Fillmore Feb 22

Auburn, Calif.- Keep Smilin' Promotions is bringing the much sought after Boot Juice to the Foothill Fillmore. The co-billed event also includes Blü Egyptian which has been described as "somewhere where Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Joe Satriani & Buckethead are all infused in a Talking Heads state of mind."

Rocklin Unified and Rocklin Teachers Professional Association reach tentative agreement

Rocklin, Calif. - The Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter #773, are pleased to announce a tentative agreement for the 2024-25 academic year.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center emphasizes the use of prevention and natural therapeutics

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center is a professional primary care natural medicine committed to helping all people reach their full potential – mind, body and spirit.

NorCal Solar and Gutter Cleaning in Roseville: Keeping Your Home Safe and Efficient

Roseville, Calif. - NorCal Solar and Gutter Cleaning, founded in 2019 by Brian Rykhlyuk shortly after graduating from Roseville High School, has quickly become a trusted name in the community for gutter cleaning and solar panel maintenance services.

California Recovery Center in Roseville offers treatment for substance abuse and mental health

California Recovery Center (CRC) is a treatment provider for adults with substance abuse and mental health condition, located in Roseville and serving the greater Sacramento region.