All My Relations: Understanding the Experiences of Native Americans with Disabilities

Native Americans suffer disproportionately from many social and health disparities. High rates of poverty, exposure to environmental toxins, and various forms of violence all increase the risk of health problems, including disabilities, yet there is very little published scholarship concerning Native American experiences with disabilities.

In collecting contributions on various aspects of disability in Native American populations in one volume, this book seeks to redress this lack of attention. Writing about regions of the United States, Canada, and Australia, and spanning a diverse range of settings from remote rural areas, to reservations, to college campuses, the authors are attentive to the impact of specific environments on their inhabitants. Taking into account both physical and social environment, and recognizing the importance of cultural context, this book is a good starting point for anyone interested in developing a better understanding of the experience of Native peoples living with disabilities. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation.

Hilary N. Weaver is a Lakota scholar, Professor, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at the University at Buffalo, NY, USA. She is President of the American Indian Alaska Native Social Work Educators’ Association, has written numerous publications, and has presented her work regionally, nationally, and internationally, including at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Francis Yuen is a Social Work Professor at California State University, Sacramento, CA, USA. He has published widely and served as the editor for the Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation since 2003. He has been a principal investigator, evaluator, and trainer for national and local service organizations.