Michael L. Wehmeyer, Ph.D., is Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas; Director, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities; Senior Scientist, Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas. His research and intervention efforts focus on promoting the self-determination of children, youth, and adults with and without disabilities.

Part One: Overarching Themes in Positive Psychology and Disability
1. Beyond Pathology: Positive Psychology and Disability
Michael L. Wehmeyer
2. Understanding Disability: A Strengths-based Approach
Wil H. E. Buntinx
3. Positive Psychology and Disability: An Historical Analysis
Karrie A. Shogren
Part Two: Application of Positive Psychological Constructs to Disability
4. The Impact of the Quality of Life Concept on the Field of Intellectual Disability
Robert L. Schalock and Miguel Angel Verdugo Alonso
5. Optimism within the Context of Disability
Kevin Rand and Amanda M. Shea
6. Social Well-Being and Friendship of People with Intellectual Disability
Joanne Kersh, Laura Corona, and Gary Siperstein
7. Exercise, Leisure, and Well-Being for People with Disabilities
Jennifer Rowland
8. Coping and Disability
Lillian R. Reuman, Chelsea Mitamura, and Michele Tugard
9. Adaptive Behavior
Marc J. Tassé
10. Self-Determination
Michael L. Wehmeyer and Todd D. Little
11. Self-Determined Learning
Dennis Mithaug
12. Understanding Hope in Individuals with Disabilities
Cindy Pressgrove Buchanon and Shane Lopez
13. Family Perspectives on Child Intellectual Disability: Views from the Sunny Side of the Street
Jan Blacher, Bruce Baker, and Lauren D. Berkovitz
14. Resilience and Disability: Concepts, Examples, Cautions, and Prospects
Christopher Murray and Bonnie Doren
15. Problem Solving and Decision Making
Linda Hickson and Ishita Khemka
16. Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Spirituality
William Gaventa
17. Career Development and Career Thoughts
Salvatore Soresi, Laura Nota, Lea Ferarri, and Teresa Maria Sgaramella
18. Self-Regulation
Dale H. Schunk and William D. Bursuck
19. Disability Studies/Disability Culture
Brenda Jo Brueggemann
Part Three: Systems that Support Positive Psychology and Disability
20. Positive Behavior Support: Foundations, Systems, and Quality of Life
Glen Dunlap, Donald Kincaid, and Donald Jackson
21. Supports and Support Needs
James R. Thompson and Yuwadee Viriyangkura
22. Supported Employment
Paul Wehman, Vicki Brooke, Stephanie Lau, and Pamela Targett
23. Family Quality of Life
Caya Chiu, Kathleen Kyzar, Nina Zuna, Ann Turnbull, Jean Ann Summers, and Vivi Aya Gomez
24. Education
Sharon Field
27. Aging with Disability
Tamar Heller and Lieke van Heumen
Part Four: Specific Populations and Positive Psychology
26. A Positive Psychology of Physical Disability: Principles and Progress
Dana S. Dunn, Gitendra Uswatte, Timothy R. Elliott, Allissa Lastres, and Brittany Beard
27. Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities
Karrie A. Shogren
28. Severe, Multiple Disabilities
Mats Granlund, Jenny Wilder, and Lena Almqvist
29. Positive Psychology and Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disability
Dan Olympia, Lora Tuesday Heathfield, William R. Jenson, Holly Majszak, Virginia Ramos-Matias, and Monique Thacker
30. Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dianne Zager
Part Five: Considerations for the Field of Disability
31. Limitations to Positive Psychology Predicted by Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis
Robert A. Cummins

Roughly 54 million people with disabilities live in the U.S., and there are many more millions of people with disabilities around the world. Not surprisingly, differences among and between people with disabilities are often as notable as differences between people with and without disabilities. And, while the lack of homogeneity among people with disabilities makes creating a valid taxonomy under this term difficult, if not impossible, there is commonality among and between people with disabilities that justifies an authoritative resource on positive psychology and disability. That is, they have experienced discrimination and marginalization as a function of their disability.
This volume assembles chapters by leading scholars in the fields of disability and positive psychology to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the state of the field of positive psychology and disability. Chapters are organized into thematic sections, beginning with an introductory section providing information on overarching themes in positive psychology and disability. The second section highlights the application of positive psychological constructs to disability, including quality of life, self-determination, adaptive behavior, optimism, hope, problem solving, forgiveness, gratitude, and spirituality. The following section addresses systemic issues in disability that impact positive psychology, again turning to disciplines beyond just psychology (special education, rehabilitation sciences, family, and disability policy) to address areas in which positive psychology can be applied. A fourth section examines positive psychology in specific disabled populations, including physical disabilities, cognitive and developmental disabilities, severe multiple disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders.
Disability has always been associated with "differentness" and, consequently, people with disabilities have, throughout time, been treated as such. As the first handbook to consider disability from a strengths-based perspective, this volume provides a catalyst to accelerate the application of positive psychology with regard to how disability is understood.