Introducing Disability Studies

by Ronald J. Berger, Loren E Wilbers (Contributor)

Praise for the first

"A well-written, accessible, and well-rounded introduction to disability studies for all levels of education. Readers will find excellent sociological grounding of the historical, cultural, and legal factors that inform our understanding of disability and ableism." ―-Christina Papadimitriou, Sociology of Disabilities

"A welcome, accessible introduction to the growing field of disability studies." ―Michelle Jarman, Disability Studies Quarterly

"Offer[s] a much-needed perspective to balance negative socially constructed opinions regarding disability."―Jane Crawford, International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education
The new edition of this acclaimed text is an up-to-date introduction to the key themes, research, and controversies in disability studies.

The authors' innovative approach offers thorough coverage
• diverse theoretical perspectives
• historical context, from ancient times to the present
• the impact of disability throughout the life course
• a range of physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments
• the place of disability in popular culture
• ethical issues, such as genetic selection and physician-assisted suicide

While giving prominence to the voices of individuals, they provide a solid foundation for making sense of disability not only as a personal experience, but also as a social phenomenon.

Genres: Disability, Disability Studies, Nonfiction

299 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2012

About the author

Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking forward to teaching this text..

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invaluable introductory resource. Put a lot of things into perspective and furnished me with a crucial vocabulary with which to contextualize my life and many of my experiences.

Straightforward and informative.

[Dorothea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to be said for the lucidity of this reading, which takes one through a very solid overview of the main topics of disability studies and satisfies the expectations set up by the title well. I suppose, however, that I would have liked to see more of the theories/arguments explicated than to see the wide variety of (sometimes) repeated examples. However, the bibliography is complete and making use of this helps balance out that deficiency.

[Olwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Academic text for rehabilitation counselling studies.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of disability-related topics, with a treasure trove of a bibliography for further research.

[Mills College Library]

305.908 B4966 2013