Exploring Disability - Hardcover

by Colin Barnes (Author), Geof Mercer (Author)

The second edition of this widely used text has been carefully rewritten to ensure that it is up-to-date with cutting-edge debates, evidence, and policy changes. Since the book's initial publication, there has been an expansion of interest in disability in the social sciences, and disability has come to play an increasingly prominent role in political debates. The new edition takes account of all these developments, and also gives greater emphasis to global issues in order to reflect the increasing and intensifying interdependence of nation states in the twenty-first century.

The authors examine, amongst other issues, the changing nature of the concept of disability, key debates in the sociology of health and illness, the politicisation of disability, social policy, and the cultural and media representation of disability. As well as providing an excellent overview of the literature in the area, the book develops an understanding of disability that has implications for both sociology and society.

The second edition of Exploring Disability will be indispensable for students across the social sciences, and in health and social care, who really want to understand the issues facing disabled people and disabling societies.

Back Jacket

'If students and teachers want one resource to assist in their exploration of disability studies, then this is it. It's up to date, comprehensive and coherent, outlining the key themes and issues in a readable way. No one studying disability on an undergraduate, postgraduate or professional training course should be without it.'
Mike Oliver, Emeritus Professor, University of Greenwich

'Exploring Disability is an important, up-to-date, critical and wide-ranging review of key issues that situates the debates and discussion within the growing literature on disability. It should be on the reading lists of many disability studies courses, providing as it does the broad overview of where both the discipline and the movement are today. It is a must for academics, policy-makers, researchers and the disability movement.'
Marcia Rioux, York Institute for Health Research, Toronto

The second edition of this widely used text has been carefully rewritten to ensure that it is up to date with cutting-edge debates, evidence and policy changes. Since the book's initial publication there has been an expansion of interest in disability in the social sciences, and disability has come to play an increasingly prominent role in political debates. The new edition takes account of all these developments and also gives greater emphasis to global issues in order to reflect the increasing and intensifying interdependence of nation-states in the twenty-first century.

The authors examine, among other issues, the changing nature of the concept of disability, key debates in the sociology of health and illness, the politicization of disability, social policy, and the cultural and media representation of disability. As well as providing an excellent overview of the literature in the area, the book develops an understanding of disability that has implications for both sociology and society.

The second edition of Exploring Disability will be indispensable for students across the social sciences, and in health and social care, who really want to understand the issues facing disabled people and disabling societies.

Author Biography

Colin Barnes is Professor of Disability Studies in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds and Visiting Professor of Disability Studies at the University of Halmstad, Sweden
Geof Mercer is a former Reader in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds.