Stephen Gilson, PhD

As the Annual Meeting approaches, I see three major issues that are crucial to the survival, growth and intellectual productivity of our section.

First, we need to support and expand the critical dialog and debate about disability, disability studies and public health. Considering pluralistic definitions of disability, how we approach theory, research and praxis are dependent on our commitment to be current, creative and challenging of the status quo that keeps disability in the shadows of the public health arena.

Second, we are obliged to move beyond simplistic views of access, to insist that APHA espouse complex strategies that advance full participation.  The current euphemism for discrimination is “scarce resources”, and we must join other groups who will not stand for such excuses to truncate social justice and human rights for those who require atypical access measures to obtain information and to engage in APHA activities.

Third, we need to look beyond the boundaries of APHA to promote health and social justice for all people including those who are defined as disabled under pluralistic definitions of disability. While conflict is not comfortable with established public and private public health agencies and entities, such as those which typically fund disability research, we must be willing to engage in debate that may cause dissent in the short run but which have significant promise for cre ating awareness and critically needed sustained social change over time.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual Meeting as we plan our work for the coming years.