Tamar Heller

Tamar Heller is a Distinguished Professor and Department Head in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She serves as Director of the Institute on Disability and Human Development and leads UIC's University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for the State of Illinois. Dr. Heller is Principal Investigator of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities and Co-Principal Investigator of the RRTC on Family Support to Bridge Aging and Disabilities.

Her research program focuses on transitions faced by individuals with disabilities across the lifespan, examining health and wellness, later-life family caregiving, and public policy aimed at improving the lives of adults with developmental disabilities as they age. She has previously chaired the Department of Disability and Human Development and directed multiple Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers.

Dr. Heller's recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on bridging aging and disability networks, future planning for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, student perspectives in inclusive higher education, and analyzing transitions from state-operated developmental centers. Her work frequently employs qualitative methods to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and their families, with particular attention to social relations, community participation, and policy implications across multiple disciplines including disability studies, gerontology, and public health.

Her notable honors include:

• International Award, Association of University Centers on Disability (2012)
• Autism Ally for Public Policy Award, The Arc/The Autism Program of Illinois (2009)
• Lifetime Research Achievement Award, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, Interest Group on Aging (2008)
• Delegate, White House Conference on Aging (2005)

Dr. Heller has held significant leadership positions including Former President (2008-10) of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and Former Vice President of the Americas for the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities. With over 270 publications including 6 books, she has made substantial contributions to understanding the experiences of aging adults with intellectual disabilities, the needs of rural families with children on the autism spectrum, and factors impacting access to community services for people with intellectual disabilities.