Please note there is no application fee for graduate applications submitted by the Priority Deadline.

The Advanced Certificate in Disability Advocacy at the CUNY School of Professional Studies offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed to effect change through disability-focused policy, community leadership, and systems advocacy. The program focuses on ways to advance social justice, improve access and inclusion, and advocate for equitable supports for people with disabilities at local, national, and global levels.

This fully online, 12-credit graduate certificate is designed for working professionals and community members with lived or professional experience in disability services, education, mental health, care coordination, or social work. 

Program Highlights

• 100% online and asynchronous learning
• Program can be completed in as little as 2 semesters
• Focus on disability policy, advocacy history, civil rights, and inclusion
• Learn from leading scholars, self-advocates, and community leaders
• Take as a standalone credential or apply courses within the MA in Disability Studies
• Designed to support professionals in healthcare, human services, education, and nonprofit sectors

What You’ll Learn

This online certificate provides practical knowledge and tools to:

• Understand the history of disability advocacy and rights movements
• Analyze U.S. and international disability laws and social policies
• Apply skills in inclusive communication, leadership, and community organizing
• Address systemic issues such as ableism, access, and intersectionality
• Advocate for equality in housing, education, employment, and healthcare

Curriculum Overview

Required Courses:

• Disability Law and Policy
• History of Disability Advocacy and Social Change

Electives (Select 2):

• Accessible Communication Design
• Contemporary Issues in Disability Advocacy
• Conflict Resolution
• International Disability Rights
• Leadership in Advocacy Organizations

Career Paths

Graduates of this program are prepared for advocacy roles in:

• Disability rights organizations
• Community nonprofits and NGOs
• Government and policy offices
• Healthcare, social services, and mental health agencies
• Education and higher ed access programs

This certificate is ideal for professionals who want to expand their influence, serve the disability community more effectively, and build toward leadership roles in inclusion and accessibility.