CUNY School of Professional Studies launches new online B.A. in Disability Studies

From CUNY. You can attend a webinar about the degree on Tuesday Dec. 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m. EST.

The City University of New York (CUNY) has launched its new online bachelor's degree in Disability Studies. The program is the first of its kind in the country geared to the educational needs of front-line direct support professionals, para-professionals, service coordinators, advocates, and parents. The program offers a fully-accredited degree at a reasonable cost from one of the nations most recognized universities.

Students in the Disability Studies program can choose one of four concentrations:

• Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Mental/Behavioral Health
• Interdisciplinary Disability Studies 

Graduates from the B.A. in Disability Studies are equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills sought by agencies providing services to individuals in community programs.  The students will be prepared for advanced study in disability studies, social work, rehabilitation counseling, physical and occupational therapy, education, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and liberal studies.

Mariette Bates, Ph.D., Distinguished Lecturer, is the Academic Director for the B.A. in Disability Studies. Dr. Bates was formerly director of One to One, the foundation created by Geraldo Rivera after his exposé of Willowbrook State School. From 1983 to 2008 she was vice president of the Maidstone Foundation, where she worked with over 600 parents’ groups and emerging community organizations, specializing in systems change advocacy for underserved populations and strategic planning, board development and fundraising.  Mariette is a graduate of Empire State College, the Columbia University Institute for Not-for-Profit Management, and the Union Institute, where she was awarded her doctorate in philanthropy and developmental disabilities. She has received the Sussman Dissertation Prize, Outstanding Alumna awards from Empire State College and the Union Institute, several leadership awards from parents’ groups and the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.