Rannveig Traustadottir – författare

The first international, cross-disciplinary book to explore and understand the lives of parents with intellectual disabilities, their children, and the systems and services they encounter Presents a unique, pan-disciplinary overview of this growing field of studyOffers a human rights approach to disability and family lifeInformed by the newly adopted UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)Provides comprehensive research-based knowledge from leading figures in the field of intellectual disability

The first international, cross-disciplinary book to explore and understand the lives of parents with intellectual disabilities, their children, and the systems and services they encounter Presents a unique, pan-disciplinary overview of this growing field of studyOffers a human rights approach to disability and family lifeInformed by the newly adopted UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)Provides comprehensive research-based knowledge from leading figures in the field of intellectual disability

This book fills an existing gap in the history of the foundations and early developments of disability studies through analyzing the life and work of Steven J. Taylor, founder and chair of the first formal Disability Studies Program at Syracuse University, but who had already been teaching disability studies since the early 1980s “before it had a name”.Organized around the key themes of Deconstructing/Rethinking Disability; Incarceration and Deinstitutionalization; Disability Policy; and Disability Studies, each section has contributions from leading US-based and international scholars. The authors represent a range of disciplines in disability studies and related fields, reflecting on their work in the context of, and in relation to the scholarship of Steve Taylor, discussing the relevance of his work for their own scholarship as well as the field of disability research in general.An important contribution to the field of disability studies, it grounds the vibrant and rapidly developing field of disability studies in its historical context, exploring the social and cultural environment which led to the establishment of this robust interdisciplinary field while also detailing how these early conceptualizations have set the stage for more critical theorizations of disability in sociology, education, social policy and other fields.

This international collection of personal and professional perspectives takes a fresh look at deinstitutionalization. It addresses the key steps towards deinstitutionalization as they have been experienced by people with intellectual disabilities: living inside total institutions, moving out, living in the community and moving on to new forms of both institutionalization and community life.Many of the chapters are contributions from people with intellectual disabilities. They are based on a life history approach and give a unique personal account of the lived experiences of institutional life and deinstitutionalization by the people who were subject to it. The life story of Tom Allen (19­12-1991) is interspersed throughout the book, providing a powerful testimony of the way institutions and deinstitutionalization have affected one individual over the course of almost a century.Researchers and practitioners will find this book an insightful and accessible reflection on deinstitutionalization, and a source of encouragement for improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

This book provides a fascinating vignette of the personal experiences of People with Learning Disabilities for the better (or worse) part of the last century.What makes the book so interesting is actually meeting some of those involved and seeing their stories in print. It flags up what has been achieved so far, and what still needs to be done.'- Oral History'The editors of this book, written by a range of authors form the UK and overseas, set out to provide the reader with an understanding of the ways in which people with learning disabilities direct their lives through advocacy. Its strength lies in the way in which it puts to the forefront the voices of those who have been, and still might be, excluded from society if it were not for the different forms of resistance they have engaged in.'- Professional Social Work'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.'- CommunityLiving'This book explains how people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. It also explains what self-advocacy means for these people and it shows how opportunities and services have changed for them in 10 years.'- Europe for Us!'Heartbreaking, touching and at times inspirational, this book introduces us to the people who have been oppressed, the system that oppressed them and the individuals who stood up to them…Read this if you are involved in supporting people and you will find yourself addressing your practice and attitudes and ultimately, improving the quality of care you deliver.'- Community Care'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.' - Community LivingExploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities charts the course through which people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities.Accounts from the UK, Australia, Canada and Iceland consider both the individual pioneers of self advocacy and local and national groups that have been set up to work actively towards improved services for people with learning disabilities. The book also examines what self-advocacy means for these people and provides an overview of how opportunities and services have changed for them over the decades.Many of the personal accounts, photographs and songs included in this book will be accessible and encouraging to people with learning disabilities, and they will provide inspiring reading for professionals who work with them, family members and community and government service providers.