Esther Son

Dr. Esther Son is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY). Her research focuses on enhancing the health and well-being of children and young adults with disabilities, particularly addressing healthcare disparities, violence against people with disabilities, and culturally adapted interventions. She holds a PhD in Social Work from Rutgers University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brandeis University's Lurie Institute for Disability Policy.

Dr. Son's education includes a BA and MSW from Seoul Women’s University and Yonsei University in South Korea, followed by advanced training in disability policy. Her work is supported by grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund, and CUNY initiatives. Key research areas include the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), health equity for marginalized groups, and community-based interventions for immigrant families.

Her recent studies include projects on the effects of the pandemic on families of children with developmental disabilities and disparities in cervical cancer screening among women with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Son has held fellowships at CUNY’s Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies (BRES) and the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER). She also leads initiatives addressing violence against college students with disabilities, funded through CUNY’s Diversity Projects Development Fund.

Dr. Son’s research emphasizes intersectional approaches to disability, cultural competence, and anti-oppressive practices in social work. Her findings have been published in journals such as Children and Youth Services Review, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, and Public Health Reports.