His work is substantive and has created an important theoretical advancement in disability and diversity studies through the contribution of explanatory legitimacy theory. This frame of reference has served as the basis for his work and has been acknowledged as a new paradigm for disability studies by many scholars in the field.

After Dr. Gilson completed his Ph.D. in medical sciences, he was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Drug Abuse in Baltimore Maryland, where he studied the neurophysiology of substance use and abuse. He now teaches in disability studies and social work at the University of Maine.His research interests and publications have focused disability identity, experiences of domestic violence and women with disabilities, disability theory, disability as diversity, universal access, social justice, and health and disability policy and advocacy. Dr Gilson has authored and/or co-authored 5 books, has contributed many chapters to edited collections, and has over 40 articles published in peer reviewed journals. He is currently pursuing a collaborative research agenda to develop and test software that will provide universal access to web and electronic information. Dr Gilson presents his work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and has collaborative relationships with international scholars. In the service arena, Dr Gilson is extremely active on university, local, national and international committees, organizations, and concerns. His commitment to universal ideology as a means to promote social justice and equal opportunity guides his service work.

In Rethinking Disability (2004) Gilson with co-author DePoy, takes on the essentialist nature of current diversity categories with a particular focus on disability, laying bare the value foundation and political and economic purpose of “disability category” assignment and social, professional and community response. His subsequent works, co-authored with DePoy, include The Human Experience (2007) and selected essays and papers. This scholarship applies legitimacy theory to understanding theories of human description and explanation and their purposive, political use in diverse “helping professional” worlds.

Most recently, Gilson, with co-author DePoy, applies design theory and practice to the analysis of diversity categories, their membership and their maintenance. In his non-profit work, he has applied this theory to the development of inexpensive, aesthetically designed prototypes, strategies, and products that enhance the ability of all people to engage in healthy behaviors.

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