This book seeks to explore how disability is understood and the position and experiences of disabled people both within and across different societies. The authors explore the question of politics in relation to specific struggles, providing a wealth of insights and ideas, and examine the nature and value of a social model of disability. They criticize exclusionary barriers while advancing a more democratic and participatory society based on principles of equality, offer cross-cultural insights and present stimuli for debate and further research. The text is accessible, topical, and provides new and innovatory thinking. This book will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, lecturers and researchers with interests in education, social policy, sociology and disability studies.

Len Barton is Professor of Inclusive Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, and is also establishing an Inclusive Education Research Center.

Chapter 1 Disability, struggle and the politics of hope, Len Barton; Chapter 2 The politics of disability and the struggle for change, Colin Barnes, Geof Mercer; Chapter 3 Disability and the constitution of dependency, Bill Hughes; Chapter 4 Bending towards justice, Marcia H. Rioux; Chapter 5 Feminism and disability, Carol Thomas; Chapter 6 Adjudication or empowerment, Harlan Hahn; Chapter 7 Out of the cellars. Disability, politics and the struggle for change, Joseph Camilleri, Anne-Marie Callus; Chapter 8 Disabled people and the politics of partnership in Aotoaroa New Zealand, Martin Sullivan; Chapter 9 The process of change and the politics of resistance in educational contexts, Anastasia Vlachou-Balafouti; Chapter 10 Inclusive education, politics and the struggle for change, Simone Aspis; Chapter 11 The struggle for inclusion, Richard Rieser; Chapter 12 Disability issues in the postmodern world, Mike Oliver;