Disability Rights and Wrongs

by Tom Shakespeare

Over the last thirty years, the field of disability studies has emerged from the political activism of disabled people. In this challenging review of the field, leading disability academic and activist Tom Shakespeare argues that the social model theory has reached a dead end. Drawing on a critical realist perspective, Shakespeare promotes a pluralist, engaged and nuanced approach to disability. Key topics discussed This stimulating and accessible book challenges orthodoxies in British disability studies, promoting a new conceptualization of disability and fresh research agenda. It is an invaluable resource for researchers and students in disability studies and sociology, as well as professionals, policy makers and activists.

Genres: Disability, Disability Studies, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2006

Reviews

[Cameron Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapter on disability and charity was very insightful.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Shakespeare has been a staple author for the past 3 years of my university course in education and disability studies, not just through book but journals also. Very insightful and an eye opener in relation to barriers that disabled people face that are not just structural. A must read for anyone who is interested in equality, inclusion and celebrating diversity for everyone.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive philosophical work on disability, even if it is at this point somewhat out of date and I vehemently disagree with some of the author's rhetoric.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man literally said "I am neutral to abortion" and the like 4 pages later said "abortion is bad".

What?

[Aarav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Shakespeare really woke up and chose nuance. Disability Rights and Wrongs isn’t here to hold your hand or give you an easy, feel-good narrative—it’s here to challenge everyone, including disability activists themselves. Shakespeare picks apart the oversimplified “rights good, oppression bad” framework and instead asks, Okay, but what do real disabled people actually want? The result is a book that’s critical, complex, and about as far from inspiration porn as you can get. Will it make you rethink everything? Yes. Will you feel smug quoting it in arguments? Also yes.

[Dr Martin Partridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an essential book for those who are interested in disability studies. Shakespeare provides a three section book that deals with conceptualising disability, disability and bioethics and the social relations of disability.