Disability Studies Today - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0745626564 ISBN 13: 9780745626567

Publisher: Polity, 2002

Synopsis

Over recent years there has been an unprecedented upsurge of interest in the general area of disability and disability studies amongst academics and researchers throughout the world. This has generated an increasingly expansive literature, from a variety of perspectives, including cultural studies, development studies, geography, history, philosophy, social policy, social psychology and sociology. Perhaps inevitably, given this heightened interest, a number of important challenges and debates have emerged which raise many significant questions for all those interested in this newly emergent and increasingly important field. Disability Studies Today provides an invaluable introduction to and an overview of these concerns and controversies.

Although the field is increasingly interdisciplinary in nature, the emphasis is primarily a sociological one since sociology continues to play a central role in the development of disability studies. Whilst the focus is primarily on theoretical innovation and advancement, the arguments presented in this book have important political and policy implications for both disabled and non-disabled people. Moreover, since disability studies, like ethnic, women's and gay and lesbian studies, has developed from a position of engagement and activism rather than one of detachment, the articles in this volume maintain this tradition. The book contains contributions from established figures, as well as newcomers to the field. Topics covered include: the history of the development of disability studies in Britain and America, key ideas, issues and thinkers, the role of the body, divisions and hierarchies, history, power and identity, work, politics and the disabled peoples' movement, globalization, human rights, research and the role of the academy.

This book will prove invaluable to scholars, researchers, students and policy makers and, indeed, all those involved in this increasingly important area of social enquiry.

About this title

About the Author

Colin Barnes is Professor of Disability Studies at the Centre for Disability Studies, Department of Sociology, University of Leeds; Mike Oliver is Professor of Disability Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of Greenwich and Len Barton is Professor of Inclusive Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.

From the Back Cover

This volume provides a new and innovative overview of the key issues and debates within the field of disability studies. Over recent years there has been an unprecedented upsurge of interest in the general area of disability and disability studies amongst academics and researchers in universities and colleges throughout the world. This has generated an increasingly expansive literature from a variety of perspectives including cultural studies, development studies, geography, history, philosophy, social policy, social psychology and sociology. Disability Studies Today provides an invaluable introduction to newly emergent debates and controversies as well as an overview of this increasingly important field of enquiry.

The volume’s emphasis is primarily sociological and while the focus is on theoretical innovation and advancement, the arguments presented in this book have important political and policy implications for both disabled and non-disabled people. These arguments are developed from a position of engagement and activism by both established figures and newcomers to disability studies. The topics covered include: the history of the development of disability studies in Britain and America; key ideas, issues and thinkers; the role of the body; divisions and hierarchies; history, power and identity; work, politics and the disabled peoples’ movement; globalization, human rights, research and the role of the academy.

This book will be an essential textbook for students of disability studies and will be invaluable to scholars, researchers, students, policy makers, professionals, and disabled and non-disabled people interested in human rights and disability.

The volume’s emphasis is primarily sociological and while the focus is on theoretical innovation and advancement, the arguments presented in this book have important political and policy implications for both disabled and non-disabled people. These arguments are developed from a position of engagement and activism by both established figures and newcomers to disability studies. The topics covered include: the history of the development of disability studies in Britain and America; key ideas, issues and thinkers; the role of the body; divisions and hierarchies; history, power and identity; work, politics and the disabled peoples’ movement; globalization, human rights, research and the role of the academy.

This book will be an essential textbook for students of disability studies and will be invaluable to scholars, researchers, students, policy makers, professionals, and disabled and non-disabled people interested in human rights and disability.

Edition details

• Publisher: Polity
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0745626564
• ISBN 13: 9780745626567
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Barnes Colin, Barton Len, Oliver Mike