People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world, making up 15% of the world’s population. Many people with disabilities often face discrimination, stigma, lower socioeconomic status and decreased life expectancy. Disability not only spans many professional boundaries (from teachers and doctors to policy makers and human service providers) but is a human rights issue as well. Students in this program will learn about different aspects of culture and disability through:
- Meeting with various service agencies in Ireland that provide resources for people with disabilities
- Advocacy and assistance to people with many different types of disabilities
- Visits to various sites and guest speakers including experts from Trinity, NUI Galway and University College of Dublin
The first three weeks the group will be in Dublin and staying at Trinity College Dublin. Students will visit different agencies and providers to learn more about disability services offered in Ireland. Some of these include a visit to the Friends of the Elderly, speakers from Mental Health Ireland, The Outhouse and others. At Trinity College Dublin, our students will learn about a unique program for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, the National Institute of Intellectual Disabilities (NIID).
During the fourth week, the group will attend the 5-day International Disability Law Summer School at NUI Galway which equips participants with insights and understanding of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The UNCRPD was adopted in 2006 to change attitudes toward people with disabilities internationally and ensure people with disabilities have equal human rights and freedoms. Previous participants of the NUI Galway Summer School included individuals from over 39 different countries ranging from people with disabilities, their families, advocates, policy makers as well as many others. For its 13th year, the Summer School will focus on “Crisis, Conflict, and Climate Change.” The Summer School will include a final Moot Court competition where participants will demonstrate what they have learned by arguing before a mock UN Committee.
Faculty
Dr. Pia Smal Associate Teaching Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Services
Dr. Katie Kostohryz Associate Teaching Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Services
