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: #370221 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.

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

From the Back Cover
"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

Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment
The book Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment written by James I Charlton is profound. It really gives an insight to the history, psychosocial history of disabilities all around the world.

It is a profound book (very deep) and at times difficult for sensitive people like me but it is a must read book. I would like for the people in Puerto Rico to read this book to really comprehend the story behind the movement of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The community of Persons with Disabilities in Puerto Rico need to comprehend deeply the situation that is going on even in Puerto Rico. The system provided in the territory of the United States does not work. On the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico the ADA Law is not enforce. I personally cannot wait until the Ammendment to the ADA Act of 2008 is pass by the Senate and finally signed by the President of the United States.

The "ADA Ammendment Act of 2008" was passed on the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly with 402 votes to 17 NAYS on June 26, 2008.

RedGimp
There are few books that can clarify the civil rights concepts and disability... This is one. I sat in a meeting of a government training program for Fair Housing investigations, and two of the lawyers/instructors as well as the Academy's Director stated that they do not need people with disabilities to be involved with the training or policy decision-making - now I give this book to persons who do not have a disability. What if we plan a celebration of women or Black History Month and only white males were invited?

RedGimp

Disability: All Around the World
Even though America may be one of the world's most enlightened
countries when it comes to treating people with disabilities
with respect, we still have a very long way to go.

As proven in "Nothing About Us Without Us", the revealing
expose by James I. Charlton, so does the rest of the globe,
to varying degrees. Listen to the voices of people with
disabilities in different countries that carry the same
messages of fear, shame, discouragement, and even hope:

Maria Paulo Teperino: "There is a cult of the body in Brazil.
We call it 'culto ao corpo'. Machismo is very strong, and
it affects the way many men think of women. Because of its
prevalence, machismo leads many men to believe that a disabled
woman can't satisfy him. Many even believe that disabled women
cannot have children."

Fadila Lagadien: "In South Africa, families don't educate or
support the education of disabled women because of the attitude
that no man will pay a 'bola' (dowry) for a disabled woman."

Joshua Malinga: "I had an inborn attitude not to accept the
attitudes at the institution. These ideas were very bad. For
example, disabled people were told when to eat, when to sleep,
that they couldn't make love, it was banned...By the mid-1970's
I and a few others wanted to reject all these ideas and start our
own organization. By 1965, I began organizing disabled people
because I knew things were not right."

Charlton's book reveals the often-ignored truth that 'things are
not right' for people with disabilities all around the world.
Whether it's being called a 'chirema' for 'useless' in Africa
or being 'ai duan' (looked down upon because of your disability)
in Asia, if you have one, then good luck NOT being treated as a
second-class citizen or worse. Things are looking up, however...

Rachel Hurst: "I decided I had to do something. I quickly realized
that a single person never gets anywhere, so I tried to figure
out how I could do something collectively." --London, England

More and more people with disabilities are joining Rachel in
organizing to stand up and fight for the human rights that other
humans take for granted. After you read "Nothing About Us Without
Us", I sincerely hope you will want to join them in their just cause.