Similar to Women's Studies or African American studies, this field considers disability as a social minority group with an emphasis on the way in which disability is constructed culturally, politically and economically rather than the traditional emphasis on the physiology of impairment.
The Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies Certificate (ILDS) is for students who have earned a bachelor's degree and wish to obtain advanced training in the emerging field of disability studies.
Students who earn the certificate will be positioned to provide leadership in their chosen occupations. Students in many diverse fields are well suited for this certificate including sociology, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, law, social work, public administration, urban planning, and design and education.
The ILDS Certificate may accompany a Master's Degree, a PhD Program, or can be earned as a standalone certificate.
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Helene Houston-ReedDirector of the Interdisciplinary Education ProgramsUMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD) |
Helene graduated from Missouri State University in July of 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Leadership with an emphasis in Tourism, an Undergraduate Certificate in Food and Beverage Management, and a minor in German. She moved to the KC area in May of 2020 to “Roo Up”. Helene completed the Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies (ILDS) in May of 2021, which is one of the programs she now leads. Helene became a certified ADA Coordinator in December of 2022. Helene is a member of UMKC's Disability Alliance Affinity Group and a voting member of UMKC's Staff Council.
Helene is an individual with disabilities and recently retired her Service Dog of 5+ years, Bella. Helene has first-hand experience with establishing academic accommodations for students within higher education, advocating for students of varied backgrounds, and loves working in higher education.
Helene is here to assist you throughout your ILDS Graduate Certificate.
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Dr. George S. Gotto IVDirector of UMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD)Director of the Missouri University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (MO-UCEDD)UMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD) |
Dr. Gotto works throughout the state of Missouri to conduct community-based research and training projects primarily related to health and wellness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Gotto joined UMKC-IHD, Missouri's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), in 2009 and was named director in 2018. Gotto has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on more than 25 federal, state, and foundation grants and contracts primarily focusing on health and disability in the United States and Mexico. He has extensive experience with the development and management of communities of practice and has co-written and published a step-by-step guide to CoP development (Gotto, et al., 2008) along with a multitude of peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, reports, and curricula in areas related to self-determination, community-based research, and health and wellness for people with disabilities. Dr. Gotto holds a joint appointment as a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics at the UMKC School of Medicine.
Gotto received his Ph.D. in 2007 from the University of Kansas in Medical Anthropology with an emphasis in community-based research and cross-cultural perspectives on health and disability. He spent his early career at Northern Arizona University's University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities and the University of Kansas Beach Center on Disability.
He is a founding member of the Missouri Self-Determination Association (MO-SDA), a past president and remains on the board of the Missouri Chapter of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MOAAIDD), and has been recognized for his leadership and excellence in applied research by the Board of Directors of the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA), which elected him to the status of Fellow.
Dr. Gotto co-teaches SW 5563: Life Span Issues in Developmental Disabilities. He is also a professor option for the SGS 5501: Disability and Community Support course.
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Maureen LesterAttorney
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Maureen Lester found her passion for elder law when she experienced the long-term care journey with her grandparents. She has focused her entire legal career on advocating for older adults and individuals with disabilities since graduating from UMKC School of Law in 2014. She spent seven years in private practice, and most recently, another few years as a Special Needs Trust administrator. She brings these experiences to providing elder law, Medicaid planning, and special needs planning services to Complete Estate & Probate.
Maureen Lester co-teaches LAW 8815S: Disability Law course.
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Jane St. JohnSr. Research AssistantUMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD) |
Jane St. John is the lead product development specialist for the LifeCourse Nexus team at the UMKC-Institute for Human Development, UCEDD. She specializes in supporting families, supported decision making, and family leadership and training. Jane was instrumental in the development of the Charting the LifeCourse framework, products, and training. Additionally, she currently serves on the Missouri Guardianship Statutory Reform Task Force, Mo-WINGS, and co-leads the Missouri Consortium for Supported Decision Making. Jane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rockhurst University.
Jane is the parent of three young men. Her son Ben, 34, has an intellectual and developmental disability, and is supported to make his own choices and decisions in his good life. Jane is a strong supporter of community inclusion, working closely in her community to promote inclusive practices.
Jane St. John co-teaches LAW 8815S: Disability Law course.
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Katharine RagonSr. Research AssistantUMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD) |
Katharine has worked in a full-time capacity at IHD since 2009. Her knowledge and experience lends itself to research and evaluation. She primarily supports the LifeCourse Nexus on a range of grants and contracts. Katharine obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Avila University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Kansas in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Katharine is also a member of UMKC's Disability Alliance Affinity Group.
Katharine co-teaches SW 5563: Life Span Issues in Developmental Disabilities course.
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Dr. Michelle "Sheli" ReynoldsAssociate Director of UMKC-Institute for Human DevelopmentDirector of the LifeCourse Nexus Training and Technical Assistance CenterUMKC Institute for Human Development |
Dr. Reynolds is the key developer of the Charting the LifeCourse framework and tools and director of IHD’s LifeCourse Nexus Training and Technical Assistance Center. Throughout her 20+ year career with IHD, she has advocated alongside, and for, people with disabilities and their families.
Dr. Reynolds has a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Rockhurst University and a Doctorate in Public Administration and Sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a focus on Family Support Research and Policy for Families of Individuals with Disabilities Across the Lifespan.
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Dr. Jeff TraigerSr. Research AssociateUMKC-Institute for Human Development (IHD) |
Dr. Traiger is responsible for organizing several projects and serves as the Midwest Hub Lead for the NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative: TAPDINTO-STEM. This project includes 37 institutions around the nation supporting students with disabilities in STEM degree programs graduate and transition into the STEM workforce. Dr. Traiger's career at UMKC also included working in Career Services and later as the Assistant Dean of Students before becoming an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management where he was responsible for supervising the Student Disability office, and later the Campus Chief Student Affairs Personnel Officer.
Dr. Traiger has created and taught a variety of for-credit classes in career development, counseling and psychological testing, and human resources as well as presented state-wide career transition workshops, conducted research on bullying behavior in higher education, employee engagement, and career development interventions. He has held a national board Mental Health Counselor Certification and a Kansas Teaching License in Secondary Social Studies.
Dr. Traiger is a professor option for the SGS 5501: Disability and Community Support course.