UIC Department of Disability and Human Development

UIC Department of Disability and Human Development DHD also provides an extensive array of clinical and community service activities and offers interdisciplinary pre-service training. The Ph.D.

The UIC Department of Disability and Human Development (DHD) is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of disability with the goal of removing barriers to the advancement of disabled persons. The UIC Department on Disability and Human Development (DHD) and the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Researc

h, and Service (UCEDD) are dedicated to promoting the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. The mission is addressed by conducting research and disseminating information about disability to academicians, policymakers, businesses, government agencies, service providers and the general public. The values of cultural diversity, consumer choice and self-determination are emphasized across the life span in all training, public service, and research activities of the DHD. The Department of Disability and Human Development offers both undergraduate majors and minors and Master's and Doctorate programs. The Master of Science degree is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in human services, as well as research and scholarship in the disability field. Specializations include Disability Studies/Social Policy, Disability Ethics, Health Promotion, Organizations and Leadership, and Rehabilitation Technology. Doctoral studies are available through an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Disability Studies. Program prepares scholars and researchers for leadership roles in the study of disability as a complex phenomenon. It is the first Ph.D. program dedicated to Disability Studies in the United States and one of only a few in the world. The Department also offers certificate programs in Assistive Technology and Disability Ethics.

We’re excited to kick off the Fall 2026 semester by welcoming Dr. Anjali Forbes‑Pratt to the Department of Disability an...
09/02/2026

We’re excited to kick off the Fall 2026 semester by welcoming Dr. Anjali Forbes‑Pratt to the Department of Disability and Human Development.

We’re thrilled to have her join the UIC DHD community.

Anjali Forber-Pratt named head of the UIC Department of Disability and Human Development: https://ahs.uic.edu/news-stories/anjali-forber-pratt-named-head-of-the-department-of-disability-and-human-development/.

“We can be at the table in this critical time in our country when disability funding, programs and services are being threatened, and DHD can help shape that future. My hope for the future of DHD is that we not only continue being recognized as a disability leader, but as a disability champion in uncharted territories — that we bring our collective expertise to all of the tables.” - Dr. Forber-Pratt

04/27/2026

Join us in congratulating Claudia Diaz as the new Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center!

Claudia previously served as the Center’s Associate Project Director. She joined the Center in 2004 and has played a key role in directing and supervising its overall operations, including overseeing the Center’s information technology team, which develops and maintains web-based programs and services, including online and live distance learning.

Claudia serves on multiple national leadership committees within the ADA National Network, addressing issues related to social media, knowledge translation, disability inclusion, and Network member collaboration. She also lends her knowledge and expertise to efforts aimed at reaching underserved populations, particularly Spanish-speaking communities.

We’re excited for this next chapter and look forward to her leadership.

04/08/2026
04/01/2026

Yesterday, March 30, 2026, the Great Lakes ADA Center celebrated 35 years of Robin Jones’s leadership as she retires as Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center. The Center’s staff had a chance to reflect on what we’ve accomplished under her leadership, think about the big goals the organization will pursue moving forward, and wish Robin well in her next adventures.

Over the years since the establishment of the organization, Robin has been the focal point of the organization and a leader in educating the communities she serves about the ADA, accessibility, and disability inclusion.

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1640 W. Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL
60608

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