The social model of disability argues that reducing structural, cultural and social barriers supports inclusion and the empowerment of people with disabilities. However, in most societies, structural barriers towards people with disabilities remain clear and profound. This results in people with disabilities experiencing lower levels of community participation than their non-disabled peers. One reason for this disparity may be that disability-focused interventions and studies have been planned and executed in academic and disciplinary silos. This has prevented the cross-pollination of ideas, expertise, and approaches. A more interdisciplinary approach would contribute a broader understanding of how to create inclusive communities, and deepen our collective impact. Moreover, community psychology research and interventions have not traditionally involved people with disabilities, despite the fact that community psychology principle and values align very well with the social model of disability. Through interdisciplinary approaches we can expand our impact as community psychologists and employ interventions that are grounded in diverse perspectives, epistemologies, and skill sets.

In this symposium, the presenters will share three examples of how collaboration with other disciplines enriched opportunities to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities. The first example, from Vancouver, Canada, demonstrates how city workers changed their attitude and behaviours regarding urban accessibility and inclusion of people with mobility limitations. This project integrated urban planning, occupational science and community psychology. The second describes an initiative in Hawai`i to engage hard-to-reach people with HIV/AIDS in medical care. This presentation examines how the social model of disability, community psychology, and occupational science can improve care for those for whom the medical model is insufficient. Finally, the last presenter will discuss a health promotion intervention at the intersection of race and disability, which involved Latino families living with a children with disabilities to reduce obesity in Chicago. This project intertwined disability studies, occupational therapy and community psychology.

The participants in the symposium will be invited to discuss their own experience of working in interdisciplinary studies, using their community psychology background and expertise, as well as the benefits and challenges they experienced. The symposium will also be the opportunity to critically assess the concept of interdisciplinarity in the already broad and complex community psychology discipline.