Disability Policy in the U.S.

HPM 509 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Disability is a constant in the human experience. Although mental and physical disability is a fact of life in health care, public health, and everyday existence, relatively little exploration of public policy focused on disabled people exists in the public health academy. This course serves as an introduction to disability policy in the United States, exploring the range of policies, laws, and public programs that impact people with disabilities, how they have evolved over the course of American history, and current controversies in disability service-provision and health care. The goal of the course is to help students gain the background to analyze how policy changes have worked well or poorly to serve the needs of people with disabilities and to use this evidence-base to think critically about potential changes to disability policy moving forward. We will examine public programs that provide health insurance, long-term services and supports, income support, civil rights protections, employment services, and other disability-relevant topics. Because disability populations are heterogeneous, we will consider the unique needs of particular populations, such as people with mental illness or substance use disorders and people with developmental disabilities. Course materials will draw upon journal articles from clinical, health policy, and social science, as well as grey literature. Students will be assessed based on weekly discussion board posts, class participation, a legislative simulation exercise that combines written and in class components, and a final individual writing assignment.