Home

Home

Of timely interest

2011 Senior Scholar Named

The Society for Disability Studies (SDS) is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2011 Senior Scholar Award: Tobin Siebers.

Siebers currently serves as Professor of English Language and Literature, the V.L. Parrington Collegiate Professor of Literary and Cultural Criticism, and Professor of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. His many valued contributions to disability studies include Disability Theory (2008) and Disability Aesthetics (2010) as well as a number of essays and articles including, for example, “My Withered Limb” (1998), “Tender Organs, Narcissism, and Identity Politics” (2002), “Disability Studies and the Future of Identity Politics” (2006) and “In the Name of Pain (2010). Siebers’ scholarship has had a tremendous impact on the field, fundamentally influencing the conceptualization and study of disability across many academic fields. In his award-winning book, Disability Theory Siebers addresses a range of theoretical debates regarding social constructionism and embodiment in an engaging, accessible manner to argue that disability studies must incorporate the corporeal body into its analysis. Letters of support referred to Disability Theory as “field-defining” and “a magisterial survey of debates surrounding identity construction and disability.” SDS also recognizes Siebers for his leadership and service in the field beyond the written word. He has worked to advance the field of disability studies at the University of Michigan, and on a national scale through his work with the Modern Language Association and the Future of Minority Studies, a national academic think tank. Through his outstanding scholarship and leadership, Dr. Siebers has fostered the growth, rigor, and recognition of disability studies.

Congratulations to Dr. Siebers, and many thanks to all of the individuals who participated in the SDS Senior Scholar Award process.

About SDS

The Society for Disability Studies (SDS) is a scholarly organization that is dedicated to the cause of promoting the disability studies as an academic discipline. According to SDS’s Mission Statement, through research, artistic production, teaching and activism, the Society for Disability Studies seeks to augment understanding of disability in all cultures and historical periods, to promote greater awareness of the experiences of disabled people, and to advocate for social change.

More than twenty-five years of rich history has enabled the organization to reach national and international members with expertise ranging from advocacy to perspectives on disability from variety of disciplines. Such expertise are often at display at SDS’s annual conference, where hundreds of participants gather every year to share latest research and theory. Members also engage in vibrant discussions on member-only electronic lists with participation ranging from some of the most senior scholars in the field to rising graduate student stars.

SDS’s proudest accomplishment is one of the most successful and the leading journal on disability studies. International in scope, the Disability Studies Quarterly (DSQ) provides scholars, activists, artists with disabilities, and others to consider the experience of disability in the written form.

We welcome your participation. Use the navigation links located on the left-hand side to learn more about DSQ and other ways to be involved with the Society for Disability Studies.

In coming days exciting information regarding the SDS 2011 Conference will be posted here.