Routledge Disability and Social Movements: Learning from Australian Experiences (Interdisciplinary Disability Studies)

Product Description This book provides the reader with a ground-breaking understanding of disability and social movements. By describing how disability is philosophically, historically, and theoretically positioned, Carling-Jenkins is able to then examine disability relationally through an evaluation of the contributions of groups engaged in similar human rights struggles. The book locates disability rights as a new social movement and provides an explanation for why disability has been divided rather than united in Australia. Finally, it investigates whether the recent campaign to implement a national disability insurance scheme represents a re-emergence of the movement. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of both disability studies and social movements. Review ’Rachel Carling-Jenkins' book is a remarkable and fresh contribution to disability studies. Her groundbreaking study disrupts patterns of perceptions about Australian history and the disability rights movement. She not only provides an innovative and scholarly analysis of the slow rise of the disability rights movement in Australia right up to contemporary times, but also provides a tool for understanding the rise of social and political movements in general. The book will be of immense value to Australian students in high schools, universities and established disability studies scholars.’ Donna McDonald, Griffith University, Australia ’Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins synthesizes the barriers and, importantly, facilitators to the participation of people with disability in contemporary society. This book is essential reading for those seeking to make the presence and participation of people with disability in our community more than a policy statement; rather a lived reality. It provides critical analysis to inform policy makers, and the evidence base for students, practitioners, and service providers. I highly commend this text to those responsible for social policy and community development more generally.’ Keith R. McVilly, Deakin University, Australia About the Author Rachel Carling-Jenkins has worked at La Trobe University, Australia. She is a freelance disability researcher.