Katharina Heyer

Katharina Heyer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she also earned her PhD in 2002. Her work bridges political theory, law, and policy with a focus on disability rights and sociolegal studies. She teaches courses such as Disability Law and Politics, Constitutional Law, and Public Policy Research.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2002
• BA in Government, Smith College, 1988

Her research explores the transnational evolution of disability rights, particularly how legal frameworks and rights discourse have been adapted across the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Nations. She examines the role of global norms, legal analogies, and social movements in redefining disability as a civil and human rights issue. Her book Rights Enabled: The Disability Revolution (2015, University of Michigan Press) is a key contribution to this field.

The absence of listed publications in the provided text prevents a detailed trend analysis, but her scholarly focus consistently centers on rights-based social movements, inclusive policy, and the ethical dimensions of disability in law and society.

Scientific Awards:

She has held a sociolegal fellowship at the American Bar Foundation and a research position at the Center on Disability Studies at UH Mānoa, indicating strong recognition in interdisciplinary legal and policy research. She advises students in political science and law-related topics and contributes to graduate and undergraduate education through courses in public law and political inquiry.

Her work is closely tied to the Center on Disability Studies, where she previously held a research position, suggesting ongoing collaboration with interdisciplinary teams focused on disability inclusion, policy development, and sociolegal advocacy.