The UCD Centre for Disability Studies was founded in 1996 and focuses on emerging fields related to disability studies through research, teaching, training and practice. It aims to develop a better understanding of disability from both historical and current perspectives, and how services can meet the needs of people with disabilities. The Centre offers an MSc in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, contributes to PhD programs, and provides continuing professional development. It collaborates with organizations supporting people with disabilities and brings a rigorous methodology with real world application to applied research and teaching.

1. UCD Centre for Disability Studies
MSU-DOCTRID Workshop on
Research Collaboration & Funding
UCD School of Psychology Scoil na Síceolaíochta UCD

2. A brief history …
• 1996 – Centre for the Study of Developmental
Disabilities founded
• 2002 – CSDD becomes the Centre for Disability
Studies
– Appointment of NDA Professor of Disability Studies,
Prof. Patricia Noonan Walsh
• 2005 – CDS amalgamates with the UCD School of
Psychology
• 2008 – Establishes MSc in Rehabilitation and
Disability Studies
• 2009 – Signs memorandum of agreement with St
Michael’s House ID Service 1

3. Centre’s Focus
• The Centre is dedicated to the emerging field of
disability studies, a multi- and inter-disciplinary
area of research, teaching, training, and practice
that aims to develop a better understanding of
disability.
• This includes looking at the nature of disability
(both historically and currently), the impact of
disability on people with disabilities, their families
and wider social context, and how services can
met the needs and maximise the potential of
people with disabilities and their families.
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4. Key Activities and Expertise
Key
Teaching Expertise
ID Research MSc in Rehabilitation
Complicated & Disability Studies
Grief/Bereavement UCD Horizons
Applied
Oral Health Input to PhD research &
Palliative Care programmes teaching
CPD Access
Collaboration
Rigorous
St Michaels House
methodology
National
Federation of
Voluntary Bodies Real world
TCD NIID application
NUIG CDLP
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