Centre for Disability Studies

The Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) is a non-profit organisation, affiliated with the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. We have been in operation since 1997. Our vision is Building Capacity for Change. Our mission is to create and disseminate knowledge that improves the lives of people with disability. We focus on designing and developing research, teaching and workforce development initiatives, and clinical practice that informs disability policy and practice. Our work is guided by the lived experience of people with disability, and we strive to meaningfully engage people with disability in the creation, development and execution of our programs. The Centre for Disability Studies offers research, evaluation and expertise. We work with a range of stakeholders including people with disability, non government organisations across the sector, government, and family members. Through our close links with research communities worldwide we have both an Australian and international focus We consist of a multi-disciplinary team from diverse backgrounds including medicine, health sciences, education, psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, sociology and law. Our approach is person-centred and based upon the social model of disability.