Society for Disability Studies

Printer-friendly version

The Society for Disability Studies (SDS) is pleased to announce the 2009 Irving K. Zola Award for Emerging Scholars in Disability Studies. Funded through the generosity of the late Professor Zola's colleagues at Brandeis University, this annual award recognizes excellence in research and writing and that shares the values and commitment to disability studies exemplified by Irving K. Zola's life and scholarship.

Eligibility:

1. The Zola Award is typically given to an emerging scholar in disability studies. This will typically be someone who has completed a Ph.D. within the past seven years and who does not yet have tenure. Applications will also be accepted from scholars with other degrees or those who received their degrees earlier but only recently moved into the area of disability studies. Emerging scholars who work in non-academic settings are also welcome to apply.
2. The research submitted must be relevant to disability studies, which we define broadly to include the examinations of concepts and values related to disability in all forms of cultural representation throughout history, as well as analyses which deepen our understanding of the personal and social dimensions of the lived experience of disability.

Award: The winner will receive:

1. A financial award of $350;
2. Conference registration for the SDS 2009 conference;
3. An opportunity to present his or her work at the SDS 2009 conference;
4. Publication in Disability Studies Quarterly ;
5. The possibility of a public presentation at Brandeis University; and
6. A certificate.

Deadlines:

All manuscripts must be submitted by February 2, 2009. The recipient of the award will be announced on or around March 30th, 2009.

Evaluation Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary panel of distinguished scholars in disability studies. All submissions will be reviewed anonymously and all reviews will be confidential. Manuscript will be evaluated for importance and timeliness of the research; significance of contribution to the knowledge base in disability studies; description of research methodology and design, if appropriate; and overall quality of writing and clarity of style. Manuscripts and reviews will not be returned to authors.

Submission:

To be considered for the competition, all manuscripts must adhere to the following criteria:

1. Overall length must not exceed 30 pages (double spaced, 12 point font);
2. Citations should follow the formatting appropriate for the author’s field of study;
3. Must be written in English;
4. Must be available in alternative formats (e.g., large print, Braille, audiotape) upon request of the Awards Committee;
5. Must have content reflecting on a topic relevant to disability studies;
6. Must be written by a single author who is also primarily responsible for the research described in the manuscript.
7. Must not have been previously published. Manuscripts not currently under consideration are preferred;
8. Manuscript must be accompanied by a current CV and the completed application form.

Please send the completed application form, the manuscript, along with a CV, as attachments, in MSWord, to Ashleigh Thompson with “Irving K. Zola Award” in the subject line.
Please note that a current CV and the completed Application Form must accompany the manuscript, as separate attachments. The application form is linked below. If you are receiving this announcement electronically, the application form is included as an attachment. Otherwise, you can obtain one by contacting Ashleigh Thompson at the email address noted above or by writing to the address noted below. If e-mail is not available, send one copy of the application form, a current CV, and five copies of the manuscript to the following address:
Ashleigh Thompson
Attn: Irving Zola Award
The City University of New York
101 West 31st St., 14th Floor
New York, NY 10001