CHAD Symposium
The CHAD Symposium attracts scholars from across campus.
On December 9th, scholars from across campus joined Dr. John McDonald of Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine in a discussion of research and practice in the area of disability. "Redefining Disability" is the fourth
annual symposium of the College of Applied Health Sciences’ Center on Health, Aging, and Disability, an
interdisciplinary center that supports research, education, and outreach addressing the many faces of health,
wellness, and quality of life.
A graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. McDonald is the director of the International Center for Spinal
Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute and an associate professor in the Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine. His research focuses on reducing spinal cord injury, promoting remyelination, or the re-generation of
the myelin layer of nerves, and encouraging recovery of function. His keynote address focused on promising
interventions and realistic goals for rehabilitating spinal cord injuries.
Joining Dr. McDonald as keynote presenters were Dr. Brad Hedrick, director of the Division of Disability
Resources and Educational Services, who talked about the Illinois model of serving students with disabilities,
and former Olympic and Paralympic athlete Jean Driscoll, who discussed the International Disability Sport
Outreach Program and its project in Ghana.
Other presenters included Dr. Justin Rhodes of the Department of Psychology, Dr. Jake Sosnoff of the
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, Dr. Tim Bretl of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and
Dr. Matthew Dye of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science.