Understanding Disability

...a fantastic and readable introduction to disability politics for activists, practitioners and students across social work and social policy, covering ground as diverse as theoretical models of disability, legal challenges and (missed) opportunities, special education provisions and the complex relationship between reserach and policy...Oliver issues an important rallying call to action and to the defence of the social model of disability, where the personal is inherently political.' - Professional Social Work '..Oliver's style is a personal one, skilfully mixing his own experience of disability with teaching, research and contemporary song lyrics...In less than 200 pages, Oliver encapsulates the last 30 years of disability politics...This book is core reading for students of social work, nursing, health and applied social science taking modules in disability studies.' - Sue Watling, Learning and Teaching Coordinator, University of Lincoln, Practical: Social Work in Action

In this absorbing text by a leading writer and respected activist, theory, policy, historical background and personal experience are combined to give readers a rich and illuminating picture of the key issues raised by disability.In this absorbing text by a leading writer and respected activist, theory, policy, historical background and personal experience are combined to give readers a rich and illuminating picture of the key issues raised by disability.

In the author's uniquely clear and lively narrative style, the book explores:

• the practical and political challenges that disablement presents
  
• theoretical understandings of disability
  
• disability law and the realities of policy implementation
  
• key points of contention for the disability movement

This long-awaited new edition of a best-selling text includes new stories from the author's experience, as well as sharply framed debate about
the development of policy over the last decade and a half. Its expansive coverage includes discussion of welfare, rehabilitation, special education and normalization.

This book is core reading for students of social work, nursing, health and applied social science taking modules in disability studies. Michael Oliver was the first Professor of Disability Studies in the United Kingdom and is Emeritus Professor of Disability Studies at the University of Greenwich, UK. He is the author of the path-breaking The Politics of Disablement and Social Work with Disabled People (in its third edition, co-authored with Bob Sapey).