The Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies takes a multidisciplinary approach to disability and provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of the main issues in the field around the world today. Adopting an international perspective and consisting entirely of newly commissioned chapters arranged thematically, it surveys the state of the discipline, examining emerging and cutting edge areas as well as core areas of contention.

Divided in five sections, this comprehensive handbook covers:
different models and approaches to disability how key impairment groups have engaged with disability studies and the writings within the discipline policy and legislation responses to disability studies and to disability activism disability studies and its interaction with other disciplines, such as history, philosophy and science and technology studies disability studies and different life experiences, examining how disability and disability studies intersects with ethnicity, sexuality, gender, childhood and ageing.

Containing chapters from an international selection of leading scholars, this authoritative handbook is an invaluable reference for all academics, researchers and more advanced students in disability studies and associated disciplines such as sociology, health studies and social work.

Reviews

‘The Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies is an outstanding accomplishment, bringing together many thoughtful and well written contributions, from both leaders in the field and emerging scholars, that advance disability theory, illuminate key academic and policy debates, and extend disability studies into a number of important and timely areas, some previously neglected. I cannot imagine anyone in or out of disability studies who will not find much that is new and valuable in this volume.’ –Richard K. Scotch, Professor of Sociology and Public Policy, University of Texas at Dallas, USA.

‘The Editors have brought together a series of readt are set within a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary dimension. The book is divided into five chosen themes, each providing a rich source of perspectives, insights and questions that are of fundamental concern for disability studies. Given the complexity and contentious nature of the issues and arguments provided in the chapters, there is a serious need for critical engagement on the part of the reader. This is an important and thought-provoking book which deserves to be widely read and debated and will hopefully contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in disability studies.’ – Len Barton, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.

Contents

Section 1: Theorising Disability 1. The Changing Terrain of Disability Studies / Alan Roulstone, Carol Thomas and Nick Watson 2. Understanding the Social Model of Disability: Past, Present and Future / Colin Barnes 3. Critical Disability Studies: Rethinking the Conventions for the Age ...