Dr. Tamar Heller

Tamar Heller, PH.D. Distinguished Professor, heads the Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and its University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She also directed the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Developmental Disabilities and Health and the Family Support Research and Training Center. Her research focuses on health and long-term services and supports for individuals with disabilities and their families.

She serves on the executive council, directs it’s publication committee, and is Vice President of the Americas for the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), was President of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) board, a delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, and co-founder of the national Sibling Leadership Network.

Her awards include the 2009 Arc of Illinois Autism Ally for Public Policy Award; the 2008 Lifetime Research Achievement Award, IASSIDD, Interest Group on Aging; the 2009 Community Support Services Community Partner Award, the 2010 College of Applied Health Sciences, UIC Outstanding Researcher Award, and the AUCD 2012 International Award.