Civil Disabilities

"Insightful, comprehensive, and personal. . . . These essays illuminate the social, political and environmental realities that have been variably experienced as helpful and harmful to the citizenship of those identified as disabled. The authors provide meaningful conceptualization and develop lexicon which enhance understanding of the obstacles to full citizenship, membership and belonging. The resulting narrative is steeped in the everyday experience of differentness that illuminates the impact of economic, legal, political and social forces."—Sex and Disability.

"Nancy Hirschmann and Beth Linker have compiled a set of arguments both impressive and accessible. . . . The editors and authors seize the opportunity to rethink issues of citizenship and collectivity in societies intrinsically based on concepts of normativity and admittance, which repeatedly disadvantage a sizable proportion of the population. Taking into account congenital disability, illness, age and institutions, these approaches cover a wide and evocative set of antinormative political positions."—Perspectives on Politics

"Civil Disabilities leaves no doubt that disability is central to the history, theory, and acts of citizenship. This marvelous collection of smart and varied essays argues that ideologies of disability draw the lines of membership and belonging that shape all of our lives—legally, economically, politically, and socially. Scholars of citizenship, from both the humanities and social sciences, will benefit from this book."—Kim E. Nielson, University of Toledo

"Civil Disabilities is a seriously interdisciplinary examination of the ways ideas of citizenship are deeply linked to disability, disabled people, and their families. Essays written by distinguished scholars educate us in this crucial area that is too often overlooked or given short shrift. An illuminating and truly educational book."—Lennard Davis, University of Illinois at Chicago