This path-breaking international handbook of disability studies signals the emergence of a vital new area of scholarship, social policy and activism. Drawing on the insights of disability scholars around the world and the creative advice of an international editorial board, the book engages the reader in the critical issues and debates framing disability studies and places them in an historical and cultural context.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: The Formation of Disability Studies Gary L. Albrecht, Katherine D. Seelman, and Michael Bury
• The Shaping of Disability Studies as a Field
• An Institutional History of Disability David L. Braddock, Susan L. Parish
• Counting Disability Glenn T. Fujiura, Violet Rutkowski-Kmitta
• Disability Definitions, Models, Classification Schemes, and Applications Barbara M. Altman
• Theorizing Disability Gareth Williams
• Methodological Paradigms That Shape Disability Research Scott Campbell Brown
• Disability: An Interactive Person-Environment Social Creation Patrick Fougeyrollas, Line Beauregard
• Representation and Its Discontents: The Uneasy Home of Disability in Literature and Film David T. Mitchell, Sharon L. Snyder
• Philosophical Issues in the Definition and Social Response to Disability David Wasserman
• Disability and the Sociology of the Body Bryan S. Turner
• Intellectual Disabilities—Quo Vadis? Trevor R. Parmenter
• Disability, Bioethics, and Human Rights Adrienne Asch
• Disability Studies and Electronic Networking Ellen Liberti Blasiotti, John D. Westbrook, and Iwao Kobayashi
• Experiencing Disability
• Divided Understandings: The Social Experience of Disability Carol J. Gill
• Mapping the Family: Disability Studies and the Exploration of Parental Response to Disability Philip M. Ferguson
• Disability and Community: A Sociological Approach Michael P. Kelly
• Welfare States and Disabled People Robert F. Drake
• Advocacy and Political Action Sharon Barnartt, Kay Schriner, and Richard Scotch
• Health Care Professionals and their Attitudes to ward Decisions Affecting Disabled People Ian Basnett
• The Role of Social Networks in the Lives of Persons with Disabilities Bernice A. Pescosolido
• Inclusion/Exclusion: An Analysis of Historical and Cultural Meanings Jean-Francois Ravaud, Henri-Jacques Stiker
• Disability in Context
• Disability Culture: Assimilation or Inclusion? Colin Barnes, Geoff Mercer
• Identity Politics, Disability, and Culture Lennard J. Davis
• Making the Difference: Disability, Politics, and Recognition Tom Shakespeare, Nick Watson
• Disability Human Rights, Law, and Policy Jerome E. Bickenbach
• The Political Economy of the Disability Marketplace Gary L. Albrecht, Michael Bury
• Disability and Health Policy: The Role of Markets in the Delivery of Health Services Gerben DeJong, Ian Basnett
• Disability Benefit Programs: Can we Improve the Return-to-Work Record? Bonnie O'Day, Monroe Berkowitz
• A Disability Studies Perspective on Employment Issues and Policies for Disabled People: An International View Kay Schriner
• Science and Technology Policy: Is Disability a Missing Factor? Katherine D. Seelman
• Disability, Education, and Inclusion: Cross-Cultural Issues and Dilemmas Len Barton, Felicity Armstrong
• Support Systems: The Interface between Individuals and Environments Simi Litvak, Alexandra Enders
• The Relationship between Disabled People and Health and Welfare Professionals Sally French, John Swain
• Public Health Trends in Disability: Past, Present, and Future Donald J. Lollar
• Disability in the Developing World Benedicte Ingstad
• About the Contributors