An important new text,
Beyond Disability draws together a wealth of experience to present theoretical and practical insights into the way in which society intervenes in the lives of disabled people, and considers how resources could be used to be more supportive and helpful. The contributors stress the social contexts within which disabilities become apparent, highlighting that disabled people:
- Only have practical difficulties in the area of life affected by their disability, and in other respects are no different from anyone else.
- Are handicapped not by the parameters of their disability but by the demands and attitudes of society.
This enlightening text demonstrates that society′s interventions do not always achieve the aim of helping and supporting but can sometimes be counterproductive; at worst, they demean and diminish individuals. In the process of making suggestions for improving services, the contributors consider the position of people with specific types of disability, explore both sides of the "care" and "counseling" equations, and discuss training, legislation, and aspects of management and attitudes among professionals.
Students, researchers, and practitioners alike in social work, health and medicine, nursing, and social policy will find this text an important contribution to thought on the disabled in society. Beyond Disability is also a course reader for The Open University Course, "The Disabling Society."
Gerald Hales is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University
CONTRIBUTORS
Colin Barnes University of Leeds
Deborah Cooper National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Marian Corker
Ken Davis Derbyshire Coalition of Disabled People
Vic Finkelstein Open University
Sally French Brunel University
Bernard Leach Manchester Metropolitan University
Dick Leaman Lambeth Accord
Ann Macfarlane Consultant Disability Services
Sue Napolitano
Brenda Smith City University
Ossie Stuart University of York
Sian Vasey, TV Producer and Presenter for ′Does He Take Sugar?′
Collette Welch London Borough of Waltham Forest
Sallie Withers Herefordshire Lifestyles
Ray Woolfe Keele University