Internships

Disability Studies Internship

The Disability Studies Internship (DS 4395) is a supervised internship through which students apply the academic skills they have acquired in Disability Studies courses. Interns work at an approved business, academic, or non-profit site that focuses on adapted sports, disability history, assistive technology, disability rights and policy, or universal design and accessibility. Students should complete DS 4395 as one of their final courses for the minor and must have already taken or be taking “U.S. Disability History” (DS 3307/HIST 3307).

Prerequisites

This course is intended to be completed as one of the final courses for the minor and is required to earn a minor in Disability Studies. Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in “U.S. Disability History” (DS 3307/HIST 3307). Students must complete an application and interview with the internship site before starting the internship.

Requirements

The student intern commits to working for a designated organization for approximately 9 hours a week for 13 weeks during a semester in an unpaid position (11 hours per week during the summer 11-week semester). During that time, the student will be trained and supervised by an employee of the organization, who will keep track of the student's hours, as well as evaluating the student's work. The student will also meet regularly with other DS interns and the Director and Advisor of the Minor to report on his/her progress, and will turn in a 9-10 page capstone essay, weekly work log, self-evaluation, and site assessment at the end of the semester.

Jocelyn Gaucin

Your Story Could Be Next

Meet Jocelyn

I did not initially plan to complete a Disability Studies Minor, but I’m so very glad that I wound up adding that minor! It changed my life.

Learn more about Jocelyn

UTA Disability Studies List of Approved Internship Sites

IMPORTANT: To intern at one of the listed sites, students must be a Disability Studies Minor

*Internship sites that have an asterisk have course/major requirements

UTA Disability Studies List of Approved Internship Sites Document


ADAPT of Texas/PACT of Texas (online/phone & Austin)


Canine Companions (Irving, Texas)


City of Fort Worth ADA Coordinator (Fort Worth) (case-by-case)


*Deaf Action Center (Dallas)

  • Providing those who are deaf and hard of hearing the means to ensure advancement through education, economic security, and good health.
  • Requirements: ASL 1441 & 1442, and maybe ASL 2323-2314
  • Website: https://dactexas.org/

*Movin’ Mavs and Lady Movin’ Mavs Adapted Sports

  • UTA’s internationally renowned adapted sports program and UTA’s winningest athletic teams
  • Requirements: KINE 3304 “Adapted P.E. & Sport”
  • Website: http://www.uta.edu/movinmavs

REACH Center for Independent Living (either Fort Worth or Dallas)

  • REACH is for people with disabilities, by people with disabilities. Our main mission is to provide services for people with disabilities so that they are able to lead self-directed lives and educate the general public about disability-related topics in order to promote a barrier free community
  • Website: https://www.reachcils.org

*Student Access & Resource Center (SAR)

  • Provides UTA students with disability accommodations and adaptive technology & testing.
  • Strong suggestions for relevant DS classes: DS 3312/SOCW 3312 “Disability & Social Work” strongly recommended

*Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research (north Dallas)

  • Major prosthetics design and research firm specializing in hard-to-fit consumers and athletes
  • Requirements: DS 3327/HIST 4327 “Cyborgs & Prosthetics” and “Anatomy & Physiology I & II.”
  • Website: http://scottsabolich.com/

*Texas Disability History Collection (on campus, potentially with limited travel as needed)

  • Hosted by UTA Libraries in conjunction with the DS minor: major archival collection with award-winning, highly accessible website with digitized highlights and oral histories
  • Requirements: History major or considerable disability history coursework for oral history or exhibit options; DS 3355/THEA 3355 “Universal Design & Accessibility” for accessible digital humanities option or DS 3346/COMM 3346 “Disability in Mass Media;” substantial 3D printing experience for FabLab option
  • Website: https://library.uta.edu/txdisabilityhistory/

*UTA Accessibility Projects

  • Working with a department or program on campus enhances accessibility for students, staff, and faculty.
  • Strong suggestions for relevant DS classes: DS 3355/THEA 3355 “Universal Design & Accessibility” or DS 3346/COMM 3346 “Disability in Mass Media.”
  • Possible options:
    • Helping to enhance digital accessibility at UTA’s Electronic Information Resources (EIR) Office (remote internship) (https://www.uta.edu/accessibility/eir)
    • Promoting disability awareness and universal design in learning among via Faculty Affairs/Center for Research on Teaching & Learning Excellence (CRTLE) (https://www.uta.edu/administration/crtle)
    • Division of Student Affairs and Division of Student Success
    • Human Resources (Office of Talent, Culture and Engagement)
    • UTA libraries (various departments)
    • UTA Police
    • And others!

*UTARI (UTA Research Institute) (off-campus, accessible via shuttle from UTA main campus)

  • Conducts research on prosthetics, assistive technology, and human-robot interactions.
  • Requirements: DS 3327/HIST 4327 “Cyborgs & Prosthetics” and “Anatomy & Physiology I & II” (or equivalent)
  • Website: http://www.uta.edu/utari

*Whitburn & Pevsner PLLC disability rights law practice (Arlington)