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The Disability Studies Unit of the Department of Behavioural
Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences of The University
of the West Indies, had a workshop entitled “Research
and Disability” on Thursday 7th December 2006 at
the Marriott Hotel, Trinidad. This workshop formed
part of the Caribbean Regional Conference of Disabled People
International (DPI) which was based on the theme “Discovering
our Potential Inside”. The Trinidad and Tobago
Chapter of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI),
headed by Mr. George Daniels hosted the conference from
4th-9th December, 2006. The gathering brought together
many persons involved in the field of disability - locally,
regionally and internationally.
Dr. Innette Cambridge, Co-ordinator of the Social Policy
Programme within the Department of Behavioural Sciences,
and initiator of Disability Studies at UWI, St. Augustine
convened and chaired the workshop. Professor Patricia Mohammed,
Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, officially opened
the event and stated that the Faculty of Social Sciences
had established a prize, The Wayne Naranjit Prize, for
a student of the Social Disability Studies class.
The feature speaker for the workshop, Professor Adrienne
Asch, who is blind, visited from Yeshiva University, United
States of America and presented a thought provoking paper
on “Research and Persons with Disabilities”. Two
points emphasized were that “research has shown that
most people with disabilities view life the same way as
people without disabilities” and that “there
was great importance for disability research that concentrated
on the factors which aid people with disabilities in
overcoming discrimination, finding gainful employment,
starting families and other successful yet simple life
endeavours”.
Feature speaker- Professor
Adrienne Asch, Edward and Robin Milstein Professor of Bioethics,
Wurzweiller School of Social Work, Yeshiva University,
New York, U.S.A.
There was also a panel discussion on current research
about disability by academics. Topics covered by the panel
included: HIV and Persons with Disabilities by Dr. A. Jones
of UWI Sondai Project (a Social Work response to HIV);
forthcoming research of the Ministry of Education (Trinidad
and Tobago) concerning the prevalence and incidence of
learning disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago by Ms. Natalie
Brown; researching the area of human rights and persons
with disabilities by Professor Scotch of the University
of Texas. Prof. Hutchinson of the Medical School, UWI,
outlined key approaches in medicine to the study of disability.
One of the highlights of the day was the official launch
of the Disability Studies website “The Centre
of Focus for Disability Studies” by Dr. Hamid Ghany,
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences. Dr. Ghany was ably
assisted by Mr. Daren Dhoray Webmaster, Campus IT Services,
UWI. The website address is: http://sta.uwi.edu/disabilitystudies/.
The Unit also took the opportunity to distribute the Working
Paper entitled “Fostering Inclusiveness for Persons
with Disabilities into Tertiary Education” which
was published by the Behavioural Science Research Series.
Dr. Hamid Ghany, Dean, Faculty of Social
Sciences as he launches the Disability Studies website
In addition to being exposed to a wealth of information,
regional and international members of Disabled Peoples' International
were also able to contribute to the identification of research
needs in the region in pertinent areas such as human rights
and education during the workshops sessions. Participants
praised the organization of the event and commended the originality
of the discussion topics. They stated that the activity gave
persons with disability an opportunity to voice their opinions
on research on disability. In particular, DPI members appreciated
hearing about intended and ongoing research on disability
in the Caribbean context. They also expressed the hope of
being included in all future research endeavours on this
topic. This workshop will contribute to
the development of the Disability Studies Unit as a centre
of teaching and research in the area of Disability Studies
at The University of the West Indies.
Mr. Leslie Emmanuel, Past President of the Disabled Peoples'
International North America and the Caribbean Regio
Participants at the Research and Disability workshop held
at Marriott Hotel, Audrey Jeffers Highway, Port-of-Spain.
Landmark disability workshop
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