When John Chang, Ph.D., was 19-years-old, a surfing accident in Ocean City, Md., rendered him quadriplegic. Now an associate psychology professor at East Stroudsburg University, he combines his personal experience and his expertise to enhance the learning environment for students in and out of the classroom. Dr. Chang believes that although diversity is \u201cincredibly important\u201d and should be embraced, people with disabilities are \u201cmore common than different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recently, Dr. Chang had an opportunity to educate others at the Pennsylvania State System Psychology Conference, where he served as the keynote speaker. Dr. Chang\u2019s message focused on his life experience and commonality within diversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the commonality of humanity that can allow us to be more comfortable and close with others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Aside from teaching, Dr. Chang has a private practice and sees clients at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital. Recently, he worked with the Para-Olympic team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He was the chair of the advisory board for People with Disabilities for Northeast Pennsylvania and chair of the Diversity Committee for Division II Society of Teaching of Psychology. He created The Compassion of Others\u2019 Lives Scale<\/em>, which was replicated internationally and has been translated to Spanish and Turkish.<\/p>\n The conference, which was held at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa., showcases research and scholarship by psychology faculty and students across the State System, and includes presentations of retrospective, recently presented and in-progress work from faculty and students in all areas of psychology.<\/p>\n