Stephen Gilson, Ph.D.

Stephen Gilson is professor and Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Disability Studies program in the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, and professor in the School of Social Work. His primary scholarship analyzes the role of design and aesthetics in creating disability and undesigning it as a devalued category. In the School of Social work, he teaches human behavior in the social environment, diversity theory, and biology for social workers. His own work is informed by systematic inquiry and thus he is committed to the synthesis of practice and research within social work. Stephen has authored/coauthored 12 books and over 80 articles including Branding and Designing Disability and Evaluation Practice. He presents his work nationally and internationally. His theory has applied to the design and development of adaptive mobility innovations that are currently being commercialized. Along with Liz DePoy and in collaboration with Richard J. Brzozowski from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Stephen is currently conducting an empirical, multi-method Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) study to identify age–related emerging health and safety issues faced by Maine farmers over the age of 60.