Society for Disability Studies names two University of Maine professors its 2009 Senior Scholar Award recipients

From the SDS Web site:

The Society for Disability Studies (SDS) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009 Senior Scholar Award: Elizabeth DePoy and Stephen French Gilson.

DePoy and Gilson both serve as Professors of Social Work and Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the University of Maine (UM) and are currently Senior Research Fellows with the Ono Academic Research Institute for Health and Medical Professionals in Israel.

In addition, DePoy serves as Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Education at the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies at UM. DePoy and Gilson have contributed tremendously to the growth of disability theory, in works such as Rethinking Disability: Principles for Professional and Social Change (2004), The Human Experience: Description, Explanation, and Judgment (2007) and the forthcoming Disability as Disjuncture, Integrative Theory and Guidelines for Responsive Global Communities.

In addition to these significant works, they publish and speak internationally on a broad range of topics related to disability and diversity in a global market economy, including universal access, professional practice, evaluation research, domestic violence, and diversity. In addition to their publications, they have worked tirelessly to develop both undergraduate and graduate disability studies programs at UM and elsewhere.

In their work, SDS sees several trends that evidence their leadership in this field: They publish frequently and broadly, disseminating knowledge to many audiences in many formats; they consistently combine theory and practice, creating new conceptual frameworks that move disability studies forward at the same time that they offer ways to improve real-world practices; and they exhibit a remarkable degree of innovation in thought and practice.

DePoy and Gilson are constantly creating new ideas, venturing into new arenas, and using their theoretical insights to enhance social justice.