Conversation Hour Presentation 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

A Conversation on the Application of Positive Psychology to Disability Contexts (#186)

Michael Wehmeyer 1 , Ryan Niemiec 2 , Nicolas Bressoud 3 , Cici Lam 4
  1. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KANSAS, United States
  2. Education Director, VIA Institute on Character, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
  3. Haute Ecole Pédagogique du Valais, St. Maurice, Switzerland
  4. Department of Special Education and Counseling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republicat of China

It has only been in the last 20 years in which models of disability that enable a strengths-based, positive approach to understanding and supporting people with disability to live full, rich lives. The application of strengths-based approaches to disability and positive psychology to the disability context is an emerging area of interest within the field of positive psychology and within IPPA itself, as well as IPPA Education. During the 4th and 5th WCPP, organizers information was collected on the interest on the part of IPPA members and WCPP participants for opportunities to share innovations in positive psychology and disability as well as to discuss areas for collaboration and partnership. This conversation hour will provide that opportunity, beginning with brief presentations by several researchers/practitioners on emerging practices in self-determination, character strengths, and inclusive education.