Institute on Disability and Health Psychology
The goals of the Institute on Disability & Health Psychology (IDHP) are to increase the representation of people with disabilities in psychology, to promote training of psychologists on the conjunction of disability studies and psychology, to conduct research in disability studies that informs the work of psychologists, to promote policies and to address psychological issues that can improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
IDP Institute Activities
The overriding goal is to promote social justice and improve the lives of people with disabilities. The IDHP is not a direct service provider; instead, the Institute’s activities are aimed at informing and changing systems, policies, providers, and legislators.
The IDHP's five main areas of activity are:
- Policy
- Research
- Education, Training, & Dissemination of Knowledge
- Evaluation & Consultation
- Prevention
Examples of Specific IDHP Activities
- Development of a model graduate psychology course on Disability, Ethnicity & Culture
- Evaluation of a wellness program for persons with severe cerebral palsy.
- Development of training materials for use in graduate psychology courses on cultural diversity.
- Training of mental health service providers at Kaiser Permanente.
- Research on parents with disabilities.
- Development of a protocol for doctoral psychology dissertations in American Sign Language.
- Designing and piloting a template for understanding quality of life for persons with
disabilities, using polio/post-polio syndrome as an example.
Institute Funding
The IDHP relies on gifts and grants for its operations. Tax-deductible contributions can be made by check to Alliant International University-IDHP and mailed to:
Institute on Disability & Health Psychology
Alliant International University
One Beach Street, #100
San Francisco, CA 94131
IDHP Phone: (415) 955-2118
IDHP Executive Director: Dr. Rhoda Olkin