Centre for Disability Studies
Background
The Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) housed at the Faculty of Medicine aims to become a specialist research center promoting, undertaking and disseminating national and international interdisciplinary collaborative research on diverse aspects of disability with a view to inform policy. In addition, it aims to offer taught courses in disability-related fields, which are cognizant of local realities and informed by local research.
The current director of the Centre for Disability Studies is Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
Scope
The centre aims to provide a platform for research, be a think tank and resource centre for academics, policymakers and disability activists, and encourage disability mainstreaming in development. The CDS endeavours to bring together researchers from all disciplines, together with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), the disability community, academics, disability-rights activists and government policy makers to enable research from multiple perspectives. The theoretical underpinnings of the centre emphasise a rights-based perspective and the promotion of full and equal community participation for all, with a recognition of the need for local, culturally sensitive research and socio-culturally relevant policies.
Objectives
- Promote multidisciplinary national and international research on disability, particularly in collaboration with researchers from Disabled Persons Organisations.
- Introduce study programmes related to the field of disability studies.
- Make accessible disability-related resources to researchers, academics and disability rights activists.
- To disseminate research on disability both locally and internationally.
Activities
The activities to be undertaken will include:
- Formulating syllabi for new programmes of study including disability studies, special and inclusive education, Sri Lankan Sign Language and Sign Linguistics.
- Running taught courses for new programmes of study including disability studies, special and inclusive education, Sri Lankan Sign Language and Sign Linguistics.
- Undertaking collaborative research on aspects of disability studies, special and inclusive education, Sri Lankan Sign Language, Sign Linguistics and Deaf culture.
- Documenting and archiving dialect variation in Sri Lankan Sign Language.
Current Research Projects
- We are currently engaged in four large-scale research projects:
- Documenting Sri Lankan Sign Language Dialects: APSL Researchers
- ICF Core Sets for Children with Cerebral Palsy Validation Study in Asia
- Evaluating the accessibility of a communication app offered via a Tablet to children and adults with communication difficulties
- Workforce survey
Team
Director: Prof. Nilanthi de Silva
Advisory committee:
- Prof. Barbara Shadden, Emeritus Professor of Communication Disorders at the University of Arkansas
- Prof. Gladys Tang, Director, Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Prof. R. M. W. Rajapakshe, Chair & Senior Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya
- Prof. Rajitha Wickremesinghe, Chair & Senior Professor, Department of Public Health, University of Kelaniya
Working team:
Mr. Sudath Senarath, Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya
Ms. Mahishi Ranaweera, Head of the English Language Teaching Unit, University of Kelaniya
Ms. Kumudu Gamage, Senior Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya
Mr. Brayan Susantha, Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf, Sri Lanka
Ms. Geshani Amila, Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf, Sri Lanka
Mr. Vitharananage Weerasena, Former Principal/Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf
Mr. P. H. S. P. Dias, Lecturer, National Institute of Education, Sri Lanka
All members of staff of the Department of Disability Studies
Affiliations
The Centre for Disability Studies signed a MoU with the Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong in December 2014.
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Opening of the Centre for Disability Studies |