For most of the twentieth century, people with disabilities have been regarded as 'victims' of their condition and a 'burden' on society. More recently, however, disabled people and their organizations across Europe and North America have challenged conventional explanations for their individual and collective disadvantage, calling for policy measures to change the image and status of disabled people in the Western world.





In this new book, Barnes and Mercer provide a concise and accessible introduction to the concept of disability. Drawing on a...

The second edition of this widely used text has been carefully rewritten to ensure that it is up-to-date with cutting-edge debates, evidence, and policy changes. Since the book's initial publication, there has been an expansion of interest in disability in the social sciences, and disability has come to play an increasingly prominent role in political debates. The new edition takes account of all these developments, and also gives greater emphasis to global issues in order to reflect the increasing and intensifying interdependence of nation states in the twenty-first century.

The authors...

Working futures? looks at the current effectiveness and future scope for enabling policy in the field of disability and employment.

The number of disability related support services controlled and run by disabled people themselves has increased significantly in the UK. As a result, greater user involvement in service provision and delivery is a key priority for many western Governments. This book provides a comprehensive review and analysis of these developments in the UK.