Read the Pathways blog

Why Not College?

Sixteen young adults with intellectual disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome, became Bruins as part of UCLA Extension’s new Pathways program, one of the first programs of its kind at a major research university. <more>

Minor in Disability

With the breadth of disciplines represented in UCLA’s new disability studies undergraduate minor, including history, literature, the arts, health sciences, social issues and public policy, students and faculty are poised to make a significant impact on the field. <more>

Determination Trumps Disability

Kelli Lim, 2007 Geffen School of Medicine graduate and winner of UCLA’s highest honor in pediatrics, has a knack for relating to her patients. As a child, she lost both legs just below the knee, her right arm below the elbow, and three fingers of her left hand. <more> (PDF)

Dealing with Disaster

When disaster strikes, every family needs a plan. For people with disabilities, planning can take on complex dimensions. UCLA’s Alan Toy advocates for an innovative GIS mapping program to locate disaster resources and the people who need them. <more>

Leaders with Disabilities

The UCLA Anderson School of Management launches its breakthrough Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities. <more>

“Almost everybody is either disabled, will become disabled, or has someone close who will become disabled.” — UCLA public health professor Emily Abel

The understanding that disabilities aren’t limited to a small group of people, but represent a near-universal human condition, drives UCLA’s approach to disability issues. It takes UCLA well beyond early perceptions of accessibility — a narrow focus on “ramps and elevators” — into a leadership role in the broader disability world.

Bruins are using cutting-edge technology to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, conducting groundbreaking research, studying disabilities through a range of disciplines, and enriching educational opportunities — from college-level programs for students with intellectual disabilities to customized support through the Office for Students with Disabilities.

• More than 50 million Americans are disabled.
• UCLA is ranked among the top 10 “disability friendly” campuses in the country by New Mobility magazine.
• UCLA’s Tarjan Center was established in 1969, when the federal government selected UCLA for one of its first centers of excellence for people with developmental disabilities.

Landmark Child Health Study

UCLA will participate in the largest study of child health ever conducted in the United States. Data will be used to help prevent and treat some of the nation’s most pressing health problems, including autism and birth defects. <more>

Accessing Campus

UCLA’s Westwood campus is considered a showplace of integrated accessible design, and UCLA Pathways is your access map. View a PDF document here or visit the Office for Students with Disabilities

Unhandicapping Our Language

Too frequently, terms used for people with disabilities perpetuate false ideas and stereotypes. This printer-friendly guide shares tips on how to “unhandicap” your language. <more>