About Canada: Disability Rights: 2nd Edition

by Deborah Stienstra

Including people with disabilities fully into Canadian society, with the rights enjoyed by non-disabled people, requires a fundamental social transformation, not simply “fixing” some bodies. It requires deep changes in the attitudes, cultural images and policies that make people with disabilities invisible, set them aside, undermine or reject their contributions and value, and justifies their neglect, abuse and death. This shift involves the simple recognition and honouring of the dignity, autonomy and rights of all people, including those who experience disabilities.
In the second edition of About Disability Rights, Deborah Stienstra explores the historical and current experiences of people with disabilities in Canada, as well as the policy and advocacy responses to these experiences. Stienstra demonstrates that disability rights enable people with disabilities to make decisions about their lives and future, claim rights on their own behalf, and participate actively in all areas of Canadian society. Disability rights can and does increase access to and inclusion in critical areas like education, employment, transportation, telecommunications and health care. Additionally, Stienstra identifies new approaches and practices, such as universal design, disability supports and income supports, that can transform Canadian society to be more inclusive and accommodating for everyone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Disability, Canada, Audiobook

167 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not sugar coat disability, or try to make those with disability into heroes. It talks frankly about what it is like to live with disability, as well as how society, in the context of government, access, stigma, and independence, treats people with disability. Often this is a bit dismal.
The solutions for the problems and challenges are the solutions that reflect how all people want to be treated, disabled or not. We want to be part of a community, live in our own homes, make decisions for ourselves, and not to be a "them" in society. As a person with a severe disability, I was pleasantly surprised to see many of the challenges that I face addressed in this book. I was also happy that institutions were described for what they are, places to go to die.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dense primer on the state of disability rights and activism in Canada at the moment, and this small book packs in a lot of important information on this topic.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. A solid primer, I’m not sure this would be my first recommendation but it’s a good supplement. My only real critique is that this book really takes the social model of disability for granted. As a chronically ill disabled person it was frustrating to see how illness was treated as separate from disability and how disability can only be social constructed. I tend to subscribe to a third/combined model of disability so this was just frustrating to me from a theoretical standpoint,

But also it was nice hearing so many familiar names from people and organizations I know!

[Shelley Âû · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that the author talked about how disability intersected with other marginalized groups

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the textbooks that I read for a class I took on disability and illness. Although I cannot say that I found it amazing in any sense of the word I also cannot say that I found it bad. I am left with in a completely unemotional state after finishing the book where I know that I have learned but I cannot pinpoint exactly what.