Grants reflect KU work in ADA research
LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has announced research awards made possible through a gift from General Electric Company (GE).
The awards given are part of the Dole Institute of Politics’ 2015 “commemorateADA” initiative, which includes research support, exhibits and public programs in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.
A $25,500 GE Research Grant has been awarded to Glen White, professor of applied behavioral science and director of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at KU. White will direct two research teams for projects titled Examining Evidence-based Strategies to Reduce ADA Access Aisle Parking Violations and Development of an Evidence-Based Updated Advocacy Letter Training Package. Graduate research assistants E. Alice Zhang and Kelsey Shinnick will contribute to the projects.
A $5,000 GE Research Grant has been awarded to Tom Skrtic, Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education, and Argun Saatcioglu, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies. Skrtic, Saatcioglu and undergraduate research assistant Cody Christiansen will conduct research for a project titled Exploring Data Sources for the Study of ADA Effects on Employment Patterns of Individuals with Disabilities.
A $2,500 GE Curatorial Research Fellowship has been awarded to Ray Mizumura-Pence, a lecturer in the Department of American Studies. Pence will conduct research in the Dole Archives for his book manuscript in progress titled “Bodies, Hearts, and Minds: A Social and Cultural History of Veterans with Disabilities from Vietnam to the Wars on Terror.”
A $2,500 GE Archival Research Fellowship has been awarded to Christian Généreux, a political science graduate student at the Université du Québec à Montréal. His project, Climbing Capitol Hill: The Interaction between the Community of People with Disabilities and the United States Congress, examines how the disability community has used activism, advocacy and lobbying to encourage Congress to enact legislation on disability. Généreux will visit the Dole Archives to conduct his research.
“We are pleased to support these research projects, particularly those that rely on student-generated research. They will have real-world impact on implementation and understanding of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which Senator Dole regards as one of his proudest achievements,” said Dole Institute director Bill Lacy.
Awardees will be recognized at the Dole Institute in conjunction with the Sept. 10 event featuring U.S. International Council on Disabilities leaders Marca Bristo and David Morrissey, who will discuss the importance of the ADA, what it has accomplished, and disability policy for the future.
The Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to promoting public service, civic engagement and politics. It is located on KU’s west campus and includes the Robert J. Dole Archive & Special Collections. The Institute offers free public programming with world-renowned guest speakers on a variety of topics that intersect politics, as well as interactive opportunities for students of all ages.