Steven J. Taylor : Blue Man Living in a Red World

A tribute to the influence of one of the “intellectual forbearers” of Disability Studies in Education (DSE), this collection of six essays honors the scholar and activist Steven J. Taylor. The Centennial Professor of Disability Studies, and director of the Center on Human Policy at the Syracuse University School of Education was recognized internationally for his enduring commitment to disability policy, advocacy, and the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities throughout society. His research, teaching, and scholarship shaped our understanding of disability through a sociological lens honed over decades of enquiry that trace back from his early work on deinstitutionalization and to the present disability trends and controversies. Taylor made clear how we socially construct humanness, belonging, community, and care in much the same way we construct deviance and stigma.

Steven J. Taylor: Blue man Living in a Red World provides insight into the theoretical grounding that has fueled DSE research and scholarship for decades. You will also find opportunities for personal reflection about how one might find Taylor’s work intrinsic to current efforts to challenge the persistent segregation and mistreatment of people labeled with intellectual or developmental disabilities. As the third volume in this series that is devoted to unraveling and better understanding the evolution of thought among those recognized as the early voices and critical leaders who laid the foundation for disability studies in education, the contributors to this text reexamine the impact of Taylor’s scholarship on their own thinking, teaching, academic and civic activities. These essays will help you discover that Taylor continues his mentorship of those who ascribe to DSE tenets and more importantly, encourages each of us to use our positions to influence the next generation of disability activists and scholars.

Contributors are: Julie Allan, Jennifer Randhare Ashton, Elisabeth De Schauwer, Cheryl M. Jorgensen, Nancy Rice, Janet Story Sauer, Ashley Taylor, Geert Van Hove and Linda Ware.

Linda Ware, Independent Scholar, has had a lengthy academic career at several universities from New Mexico to New York. Her publications appeared in prestigious national and international academic journals. Her most recent book, Critical Readings in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies, (Dis)Assemblages, is an edited volume published by Springer (2020).
Janet Story Sauer, Professor at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, uses ethnography in her research and teaching about the lived experiences of immigrant families of children with disabilities. Her most recent publication, Affirming Disability: Strengths-Based Portraits of Culturally Diverse Families, is co-authored with Zach Rossetti (Teachers College Press, 2019).