Beyond Disability

Towards an Enabling Society

An important new text, Beyond Disability draws together a wealth of experience to present theoretical and practical insights into the way in which society intervenes in the lives of disabled people, and considers how resources could be used to be more supportive and helpful. The contributors stress the social contexts within which disabilities become apparent, highlighting that disabled people:

• Only have practical difficulties in the area of life affected by their disability, and in other respects are no different from anyone else.
• Are handicapped not by the parameters of their disability but by the demands and attitudes of society.

This enlightening text demonstrates that society's interventions do not always achieve the aim of helping and supporting but can sometimes be counterproductive; at worst, they demean and diminish individuals. In the process of making suggestions for improving services, the contributors consider the position of people with specific types of disability, explore both sides of the "care" and "counseling" equations, and discuss training, legislation, and aspects of management and attitudes among professionals.

Students, researchers, and practitioners alike in social work, health and medicine, nursing, and social policy will find this text an important contribution to thought on the disabled in society. Beyond Disability is also a course reader for The Open University Course, "The Disabling Society."