At its best Disability Studies is an arena of critical debate addressing controversial issues concerning, not just the meaning of disability, but the nature of society, dominant values, quality of life, and even the right to live. Indeed, Disability Studies is itself the subject of controversy, in terms of its theoretical basis and who controls courses and research and whether it should be shaped and controlled by disabled academics or grassroots activists. Within these debates, generated by the social model of disability, are fundamental challenges to policy, provision and professional...

Since it was first published in 1993, Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments has established itself as essential reading for anyone coming to the subject of disability studies. The book tackles a wide range of issues in numerous succinct chapters written by contributing authors, many of whom are disabled themselves. From the outset, the chapters take a multidisciplinary and international approach.

The third edition is made up of 42 chapters, 15 of which are completely new to this edition, including:

- Early seminal writings in disabled studies

- Death and...