New college minor gains in popularity...

The following is excerpted from the UCLA Daily Bruin of Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
Article by Ben Thaler.

A year after its implementation, the disability studies minor has taught students and faculty an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the nature of what constitutes a disability. Kyle McJunkin, an academic counselor in the UCLA College, said that disability studies is an emerging subject in many major universities.

Helen Deutsch, a professor of English who teaches some of the disability studies courses, said her teaching approach looks at disabilities as a vital part of the culture rather than a problem that needs to be solved. "The humanities are leading the push to the forefront in changing the way we look at disabilties," Deutsch said.

Three students have graduated with the minor successfully, while six are (pursuing) the minor this year, McJunkin said. He added that students from other majors often take classes in disability studies.

Third-year global studies student Draco Chu is one of the students minoring in disability studies this year. He said he enjoys the small class sizes and the interactive nature of disability studies. "I'm taking a choreography class teaching movement for people with disabilities, and I visit the University Elementary School and mentor students with learning disabilities," Chu said.

The minor came into existence through the efforts of UCLA faculty from 16 departments across the College, said the College's assistant vice provost, Lucy Blackmar. "For over two decades UCLA faculty and administrators have wanted to make the study of disabilities part of our academic mission," Blackmar said.

McJunkin said the core course for the minor, called Disability Studies 101, consists of a weekly guest speaker and a different way of looking at disability. "The speakers talk about how disabilities are viewed socially, culturally, legally and artistically," McJunkin said. The students also receive real world work experience through a two-quarter internship working with either a disabled population or through policy issues relating to disabilities.

Some of the disciplines that disability studies can complement include public health, psychiatry, pre-medicine and neuroscience. Draco Chu said he is enrolled in the minor because he wants to use his privilege as an able-bodied person to understand more about diversity.