Product Description

James Charlton has produced a ringing indictment of disability oppression, which, he says, is rooted in degradation, dependency, and powerlessness and is experienced in some form by five hundred million persons throughout the world who have physical, sensory, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. Nothing About Us Without Us is the first book in the literature on disability to provide a theoretical overview of disability oppression that shows its similarities to, and differences from, racism, sexism, and colonialism. Charlton's analysis is illuminated by interviews he conducted over a ten-year period with disability rights activists throughout the Third World, Europe, and the United States. Charlton finds an antidote for dependency and powerlessness in the resistance to disability oppression that is emerging worldwide. His interviews contain striking stories of self-reliance and empowerment evoking the new consciousness of disability rights activists. As a latecomer among the world's liberation movements, the disability rights movement will gain visibility and momentum from Charlton's elucidation of its history and its political philosophy of self- determination, which is captured in the title of his book. Nothing About Us Without Us expresses the conviction of people with disabilities that they know what is best for them. Charlton's combination of personal involvement and theoretical awareness assures greater understanding of the disability rights movement.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #277470 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 213 pages

From Library Journal
Charlton, executive vice president of Chicago's Access Living, one of the largest centers for independent living in the United States, has lectured extensively on the disability rights movement. Here, he analyzes the many factors including political and economic power structures that collectively contribute to disability oppression in both developed and developing countries. He also examines what the Civil Rights and feminist movements have taught disability rights advocates. He supports his ideas by extensively quoting and discussing the works of philosophers, economists, sociologists, and political activists. However, the most useful evidence comes from the disability rights activists themselves. Charlton interviewed approximately 50 of them from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe, transcribing much of what they said. His introduction includes a detailed scope note and definitions of terms used, and the well-developed endnotes are also helpful. Recommended for large sociology and political science collections and subject specialists.?Ximena Chrisagis, Fordham Health Sciences Lib., Wright State Univ., Dayton, Ohio
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Focusing on the everday life of people with disabilities, [Charlton] argues that barriers to independent living are embedded in the larger social and economic environment. His discussion is buttressed . . . by interviews with disability rights activists from the Americas, Asia, South Africa, and Europe. It is their experiences that make Charlton's arguments and policy suggestions come to life."--"Choice

From the Inside Flap
"Jim Charlton in a deeply moving work demolishes old myths about disabilities. He reveals in stunning oral histories, conducted in ten diferent countries, possibilities yet untapped."--Studs Terkel

"A defining document in the literature of disability culture. Jim Charlton chronicles both the history and experience of exclusion so familiar to people with disabilities. But he does it all in a style and with a sensitivity that connects the voices of a unique community to the universal narrative of human rights. This is oral history and political manifesto rich with wisdom and insight on every page."--John Hockenberry

"A powerful framing of the question of disability rights [from] an international human rights perspective. . . . The author's convictions--his commitment, anger, and outrage--energize the book and provide one of its greatest strengths."--Gelya Frank, University of Southern California

"A thoughtful piece of work that is important, sorely needed and unique. . . . Anybody interested in disability research and policy will want to read this book."--David Goode, author of A World Without Words

Customer Reviews

A great book for anyone into disability empowerment
"The oppression of 500 million people with disabilities is rooted in the political-economic and cultural dime sions of everyday life", says James Charlton in Nothing About Us Without Us. Calling his book part descriptive, part conversational and wholly argumentative, the author observes how oppression and empowerment affect and change individuals and the community. Charlton's interviews with 45 international disability rights activists and his own observations as an activist recognize the essential theme of the disability rights movement: a demand for self control and conditions resulting from the lack of it. The author's threefold mission challenges existing epistomologies and ontologies of disability. With a close eye on Marxist theory, Charlton explains existing practices and suggests new foundations, structures and contexts in which to think about the relationships and conditions of oppression and resistance and to understand and support disability rights. Excellent

Excellent Book on Disability Issues
This is a well written, thoroughly researched work dealing with the treatment of disabled people in various cultures. The book explores the impact of religious institutions, charities, schools and various other institutions on how the disabled are treated. It also does a remarkable job of explaining how consciousness needs to change in order for progress to be made. It is an extremely thought provoking work which raises many issues. I recommend this book to anyone who may some day be disabled - which is any of us.

Excellent book
I'd thoroughly recommend this book. It provides a global overview of the disability rights movement, and includes interviews with many activists from different countries. I found it easy to read, and thoroughly interesting.