Reviews for Disability, self, and society

The average rating for Disability, self, and society based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-09-23 00:00:00 Dave Calabrese I appreciate the Disability Cultures approach of Shakespeare in questioning many of the assumptions and appropriations in the UK British Disability movement. As a an American, I was often a bit confused, although he filled in many relevant historical references. I think that this volume is invaluable to disability studies and politics, even as a see a few shortcomings. One major critique is that the cost of this volume is high, which is especially relevant to a population that Shakespeare notes has unacceptably high levels of poverty and unemployment. I was frustrated that at times he laid out positions that were sketchier than the positions he was critiquing; I would have like to see more data in his re-constructive analysis. I was also feeling shorted and frustrated that while one of the central theses of Shakespeare's work seems to be that it's dangerous to over-homogenize disability cultures' views, that he seems to do this in several places. For me, it was most noticeable in his assertion that positive disability pride is specific to more "high-functioning" individuals. I find this to be an extremely pathologizing distinction that promotes the hierarchy and marginalization that he seeks to dismantle. On page 116 in particular, he applies this framework to the Neurodiversity movement, which does not match with the actual history of the autism pride movement, and I find problematic in legitimizing the Autism Parent Movements which claim this as a way to silence adults' voices. For reference, the index does not include Autism Spectrum (or variations of this category), so here are the references I noted: pages 49, 71-72, 116, 169

Review # 2 was written on 2013-02-10 00:00:00 Tom Ogden Tom Shakespeare has been a staple author for the past 3 years of my university course in education and disability studies, not just through book but journals also. Very insightful and an eye opener in relation to barriers that disabled people face that are not just structural. A must read for anyone who is interested in equality, inclusion and celebrating diversity for everyone.