Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment [Paperback]

James I. Charlton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0520224817 | ISBN-13: 978-0520224810 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 213 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (August 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520224817
• ISBN-13: 978-0520224810
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Law > Specialties > Disability
  • #66 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Government     > Public Affairs & Administration

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for anyone into disability empowerment, January 3, 1999

By 

Cindy McCoy ([e-mail]) (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment (Hardcover)

"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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on Disability Issues, August 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment (Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, August 10, 2002

By 

Mark Sherry (Toledo OH, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment (Paperback)

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.