New York, NY – The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is pleased to announce the launch of the Journal of Teaching Disability Studies, a new publication that seeks to promote disability studies pedagogy. Developed by the CUNY SPS disabilities studies program, and edited by its academic director Mariette Bates, in collaboration with colleagues at the City University of New York and other schools, the journal invites discussion of teaching disability studies topics in a broad range of educational settings and explores how the principles of universal design support student learning. The Journal joins a growing list of peer-reviewed journals in the discipline, and has the distinction of being the first to be launched primarily through the efforts of the CUNY SPS faculty.
“Disability Studies programs have been growing steadily over the last several decades, with certificates and degrees being developed each year,” says Bates. “The Journal of Teaching Disability Studies was created to encourage community among those of us engaged in teaching about disability, and to enhance pedagogy in the field of disability studies.”
The journal’s inaugural edition opens with an introductory essay by Bates, in which she recounts the creation of the CUNY SPS disability studies program, which offers the first bachelor’s degree of its kind and the first stand-alone master’s degree in the field. Understanding the history of this groundbreaking program, she explained, might help inspire others to develop similar ones elsewhere.
The issue also features 5 submissions reviewed by leading experts in disability studies from CUNY and other colleges and universities nationwide. “[There are] articles on a wide range of topics, from examining universal design strategies in large enrollment courses to the use of a graphic autobiographical novel, El Deafo, with first-year college writers to explore ideas of narrative and voice,” adds Bates. “I am thrilled that we received such interesting and diverse submissions, and that two of the submissions were from CUNY faculty.”
The Journal of Teaching Disability Studies is available online at the CUNY Academic Commons website. Along with each issue, which will be published yearly, there are two other sections on the site, both updated on a rolling basis. The Resources and Ideas section offers a space for disability scholars to contribute more information to the discipline, including assignments, syllabi, and essays. The For Students section allows students in the field to submit exemplary papers or presentations.
About Disability Studies at the CUNY School of Professional Studies
Disability Studies is an emerging academic field that explores disability from multiple perspectives, including the social sciences, humanities, science, and the law. CUNY SPS offers groundbreaking, fully accredited online degree and certificate programs within Disability Studies including the BA in Disability Studies, MA in Disability Studies, MS in Disability Services in Higher Education, and Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies.
About the CUNY School of Professional Studies
Home to the first fully online degree programs at the City University of New York, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) provides online and on campus programs that meet the needs of adults who are looking to finish a bachelor’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, advance in the workplace, or change careers.
The School’s growth has been remarkable. Launching twenty-three degrees since 2006, enrollment has risen by more than 30% in the last four years to 3,600 students in the credit-bearing programs. We serve thousands more who are enrolled in our non-degree and grant funded workforce development programs. In addition, the School has an active Alumni network and established the CUNY SPS Foundation, which offers multiple scholarship opportunities to our current students.
Affirming our role as a leader in online education, CUNY SPS was ranked in the top 5% of U.S. News & World Report’s list of the 2019 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, making CUNY SPS the highest nationally listed program in New York City.
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