Students in the interdisciplinary PhD in Disability Studies program have unique opportunities to partner with independent living centers and other disability community organizations. They may work in collaborative research, service programs, and advocacy. Previous opportunities have included policy positions at legal and government centers in Washington, D.C., where students learned about policymaking processes that affect the lives of disabled citizens and their families. Other students have traveled internationally to conduct research, present papers, and participate in service initiatives as they learn how the disability studies knowledge base can expand to incorporate experiences of disability in many cultures.