In the mid to late 1970s, a group of psychologists with disabilities convened at several annual conventions. The discussions and efforts of this informal group focused on issues of accessibility and advocacy. Their work prompted the development of a task force on psychology and handicaps within APA. This task force eventually recommended the formation of the Committee on Disabilities and Handicaps (CDH), which met for the first time in 1985.
The current incarnation of the Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology (as CDH was later renamed) can be characterized as the result of three areas of influence:
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The influence of a constituency of APA members who were themselves disabled;
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The influence of leaders in the association who recognized the importance of formalizing a body to deal with disability issues as they impacted academics, science, research, and policy; and
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The growing awareness and concern in general within this country for disability issues.
The activities of this committee have reflected these diverse influences over the years. The committee sees its charge as bringing a disability perspective to each and every internal and external aspect the APA. This broad agenda is reflected in its mission statement.
Committee alumni
- Arnold V. Abels, PhD*
- Erin E. Andrews, PsyD*
- Jesus Aros, PhD
- Adrienne Asch, PhD
- Kara Ayers, PhD*
- Rochelle Balter, PhD
- Leonard Bickman, PhD
- Barbara Brauer, PhD
- Susanne Bruyere, PhD
- Wayne Camera, PhD
- Ronald Cannella, EdD*
- Elizabeth Cardoso, PhD
- Paul Carling, PhD
- Megan Carlos, PhD*
- G.D. Carnes, PhD^
- Fong Chan, PhD*
- John Chang, PhD
- Dolores Cimini, PhD
- Alette Coble-Temple, PsyD
- Randall Cox, PhD*
- Treven Curtis Pickett, PsyD
- Donald W. Daughtry, PhD*
- Terry DeRocher Lerma, PhD*
- Robert DeYoung, PhD*
- Susan D’Mello, PhD*
- Dana Dunn, PhD
- Michael Dunn, PhD
- Lois L. Elliott, PhD^
- Jeffrey Ernst, PhD
- S. Gray Garwood, PhD^
- Jennifer Gibson, PhD
- Kim Gorgens, PhD*
- John Hagen, PhD
- Rosemary Haraguchi, PhD
- Robert Harris, PhD*
- Lillian Holcomb, PhD
- Daniel Holland, PhD
- Doug Johnson-Greene, PhD
- Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD
- Iseli Krauss, EdD*
- Poorna Kushalnagar, PhD*
- EJ Lee, PhD
- Irene Leigh, PhD*
- Paul Leung, PhD^*
- Erin M. Liebich, PsyD*
- Wendy Marlowe, PhD
- Elizabeth Mazur, PhD
- Linda Mona, PhD*
- Reginald Nettles, PhD*
- Rhoda Olkin, PhD*
- Barbara Palombi, PhD
- Lawrence Pick, PhD
- Carrie Pilarski, PhD*
- Robert Pollard, Jr., PhD*
- Laurie Powers, PhD
- George P. Prigatano, PhD
- Marjorie Ragosta, PhD
- Joseph Rath, PhD*
- Jennifer Reesman, PhD*
- Izabela Schultz, PhD
- Cheryl Lynn Shigaki, PhD*
- Karrie A. Shogren, PhD
- Stephanie Stowman, PhD
- Allen Sussman, PhD*
- Greg Taliaferro, PhD*
- Carolyn Vash, PhD
- Bruce Walker PhD
- Teena M. Wax, PhD*
- James L. Werth, PhD
- Julie Williams, PhD*
- Gary L. Wood, PsyD^*
- Beatrice A. Wright, PhD^*
- Betsy A. Zaborowski, PsyD*
- Marcie Zinn, PhD
^Members of the first Committee on Disabilities and Handicaps in 1985.
*Members who acted as chair or co-chair.
Last updated: March 2022Date created: 2008
