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 DS 3307/HIST 3307.
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 DS 3307/HIST 3307. Students must complete an application and interview with the internship site before starting the internship.
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.
Your Story Could Be Next
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.
Organizations on and off UTA's campus currently partnered with the Disability Studies Minor on internships.
Major grassroots organization for disability advocacy based in Austin, offering online and Austin-based internships.
ADAPT of TexasNon-profit that provides assistance dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities.
Canine CompanionsHelps the city of Fort Worth implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and enhance accessibility for all residents.
UTA’s internationally renowned adapted sports program and UTA’s winningest athletic teams.
Movin’ Mavs Adapted SportsMajor prosthetics design and research firm specializing in hard-to-fit consumers and athletes and based in North Dallas.
Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & ResearchDisability rights and special education lawyer based in Arlington.
Sean Pevsner of Whitburn & PevsnerProvides UTA students with disability accommodations and adaptive technology and testing.
SARHosted by UTA Libraries in conjunction with the Disability Studies Minor and the Public History Program: Major archival collection with award-winning, highly-accessible website with digitized highlights and oral histories.
Texas Disability History CollectionWorking with a department or program on campus enhances accessibility for students, staff, and faculty (such as: UTA Electronic Information Resources Office, Center for Research on Teaching & Learning Excellence, UTA Human Resources, UTA Libraries, UTA Police, etc.).
UTA Accessibility ProjectsConducts research on prosthetics, assistive technology, and human-robot interactions.
UTARI (UTA Research Institute)