Bernd Marin is Executive Director of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Christopher Prinz is Policy Analyst at the Employment Analysis and Policy Division of the OECD, Paris, and Monika Queisser is Principal Administrator at the Employment Analysis and Policy Division of the OECD, Paris.

’Rapid ageing of societies, increasing costs of social protection and growing concern on the problems of exclusion and marginalisation, make this book on disability welfare policies most topical. It elaborates on the intimate connection of disability policies with labour and economic policies, as well as with social justice and empowerment. It offers valuable reading for all those who like to broaden their understanding on disability and for researchers, designers and decision makers on disability policies it is a must.’ Dr Raija Gould, Finnish Centre for Pensions, Finland

• Contents: Preface, Bernd Marin, Christopher Prinz and Monika Queisser. Introduction: Main Findings and Conclusions from the OECD Report - and Critical Queries: Disability programmes in need of reform, OECD; Transforming disability into ability. A commentary based on recent European research, Deborah Mabbett. Opening Statements: Transforming disability into ability - results and conclusions from the OECD study of disability policies for the working-age population in 20 member countries, Berglind Ásgeirsdóttir; The US Department of Labor perspective, W.Roy Grizzard; The French government's perspective on disability and employment, Jean-Yves Hocquet. Theme 1: What Do We Mean by 'Being Disabled'?: Measuring disability and measuring the impact of living with a disability, Adele D. Furrie; What do we mean by being disabled? A WHO perspective, Irene Hoskins; What do we mean by being disabled? A regional NGO perspective, Vladimir Kosic; Ability assessment in pre-pension and flex job schemes, Steen Bengtsson; What do we mean by being disabled? Session report, Joakim Palme. Theme 2: What Rights and Responsibilities for Society and for Persons with Disabilities?: The OECD perspective on mutual obligations, Peter Scherer; Disability, the organization of work, and the need for change, Colin Barnes; Towards mutual responsibilities; a Dutch blueprint, Philip R. de Jong; Should we establish a system of 'mutual obligations' for persons with disabilities?, Kenneth S. Apfel; 'Escape into disability': The Polish transformation country experience, Stanislawa Golinowska; What rights and responsibilities for society and for persons with disabilities? Session report, Chiara Saraceno; Excursus: new directions in disability (benefit) policy: the Dutch experience, Philip R. de Jong. Theme 3: Who Needs Activation, How, and When?: Who needs activation, how and when? Introductory comments, Hedva Sarfati; Building new pathways to work, Rebecca Endean; Activation through sheltered work? Not if b