Sally French – författare

Part of Palgrave's Interagency Working in Health and Social Care series, this book explores the policy and practice which frames work with disabled people. Providing a critical review of the mainstream services available to disabled people, it assesses the successes and failures of interagency working, and offers a model for future practice.

* Why has 'the discursive turn' been sidelined in the development of a social theory of disability, and what has been the result of this?* How might a social theory of disability which fully incorporates the multidimensional and multifunctional role of language be described?* What would such a theory contribute to a more inclusive understanding of 'discourse' and 'culture'?The idea that disability is socially created has, in recent years, been increasingly legitimated within social, cultural and policy frameworks and structures which view disability as a form of social oppression. However, the materialist emphasis of these frameworks and structures has sidelined the growing recognition of the central role of language in social phenomena which has accompanied the 'linguistic turn' in social theory. As a result, little attention has been paid within Disability Studies to analysing the role of language in struggle and transformation in power relations and the engineering of social and cultural change. Drawing upon personal narratives, rhetoric, material discourse, discourse analysis, cultural representation, ethnography and contextual studies, international contributors seek to emphasize the multi-dimensional and multi-functional nature of disability language in an attempt to further inform our understanding of disability and to locate disability more firmly within contemporary mainstream social and cultural theory.

At its best Disability Studies is an arena of critical debate addressing controversial issues concerning, not just the meaning of disability, but the nature of society, dominant values, quality of life, and even the right to live. Indeed, Disability Studies is itself the subject of controversy, in terms of its theoretical basis and who controls courses and research and whether it should be shaped and controlled by disabled academics or grassroots activists. Within these debates, generated by the social model of disability, are fundamental challenges to policy, provision and professional practice that are directly relevant to all who work with disabled people, whether in the field of social work, health or education. Controversial Issues in a Disabling Society has been written specifically to raise questions and stimulate debate. It has been designed for use with students in group discussion, and to support in-depth study on a variety of professional courses. It covers a wide range of specific, substantive issues within Disability Studies in a series of succinct chapters. Each chapter sets a question for debate, places the key issues in context and presents a particular argument. This is an accessible and engaging book which challenges dominant positions and ideologies from a social model viewpoint of disability.

This book traces the development of paid work for visually impaired people in the UK from the 18th century to the present day. It gives a voice to visually impaired people to talk about their working lives and documents the history of employment from their experience, an approach which is severely lacking in the current literature about visual impairment and employment. By analysing fifty in-depth face-to-face interviews with visually impaired people talking about their working lives (featuring those who have worked in traditional jobs such as telephony, physiotherapy and piano tuning, to those who have pursued more unusual occupations and professions), and grouping them according to occupation and framed by documentary, historical research, these stories can be situated in their broader political, economic, ideological and cultural contexts. The themes that emerge will help to inform present day policy and practice within a context of high unemployment amongst visually impaired people of working age. It is part of a growing literature which gives voice to disabled people about their own lives and which adds to the growing academic discipline of disability studies and the empowerment of disabled people.

In the new edition of this unique book, French and Sim apply their theoretical expertise in psychology and sociology to physiotherapy practice. Informative, analytical and stimulating, this text is well referenced and continues to be invaluable to physiotherapy students and practitioners.

This title was first published in 2001. Providing a detailed account of the working lives of visually impaired physiotherapists in Britain, this study also presents an overview of the employment position of disabled people in the UK, and is underpinned by a social model which views disability in terms of societal barriers rather than in terms of impairment.

This title was first published in 2001. Providing a detailed account of the working lives of visually impaired physiotherapists in Britain, this study also presents an overview of the employment position of disabled people in the UK, and is underpinned by a social model which views disability in terms of societal barriers rather than in terms of impairment.

'Disability on Equal Terms is not a Turgid and difficult book despite its accent on complex and challenging themes. It is a lively and important read' - The Skill Journal, June 2009

`[A] collection of highly readable and scholarly essays that reflect both the theoretical and practical implications of recent developments in the field. This book is essential reading for everyone interested in disability: highly recommended' - Colin Barnes, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds

This authoritative collection of writings examines and challenges traditional notions of disability. Edited and written by leading experts in the field, it offers a multidisciplinary approach to disability studies, incorporating perspectives from a wide range of health and social care services, as well as a distinct and unique emphasis on the views, experiences, work and personal testimonies of disabled people themselves.

The book is divided into three sections, each of which is prefaced by an editorial introduction which brings together the key themes and issues under discussion. Each section:

"Examines the dominant assumptions about disability and impairment and their historical and cultural contexts

"Documents the challenges to such presumptions generated by disabled people themselves

"Explores the implications of such challenges for professional policy and practice

This ground-breaking book will be essential reading for those studying disability studies, social work, nursing, and allied health and social care at all levels. It will also be a thought-provoking and inspiring read for disabled people and activists, professionals and policy makers.

John Swain is based in the School of Health, Community and Education Studies at Northumbria Univeristy. Sally French is based at the Open Univeristy. Previous publications include the co-edited Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments, Second Edition (SAGE, 2004).

'Disability on Equal Terms is not a Turgid and difficult book despite its accent on complex and challenging themes. It is a lively and important read' - The Skill Journal, June 2009

`[A] collection of highly readable and scholarly essays that reflect both the theoretical and practical implications of recent developments in the field. This book is essential reading for everyone interested in disability: highly recommended' - Colin Barnes, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds

This authoritative collection of writings examines and challenges traditional notions of disability. Edited and written by leading experts in the field, it offers a multidisciplinary approach to disability studies, incorporating perspectives from a wide range of health and social care services, as well as a distinct and unique emphasis on the views, experiences, work and personal testimonies of disabled people themselves.

The book is divided into three sections, each of which is prefaced by an editorial introduction which brings together the key themes and issues under discussion. Each section:

"Examines the dominant assumptions about disability and impairment and their historical and cultural contexts

"Documents the challenges to such presumptions generated by disabled people themselves

"Explores the implications of such challenges for professional policy and practice

This ground-breaking book will be essential reading for those studying disability studies, social work, nursing, and allied health and social care at all levels. It will also be a thought-provoking and inspiring read for disabled people and activists, professionals and policy makers.

John Swain is based in the School of Health, Community and Education Studies at Northumbria Univeristy. Sally French is based at the Open Univeristy. Previous publications include the co-edited Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments, Second Edition (SAGE, 2004).

Since it was first published in 1993, Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments has established itself as essential reading for anyone coming to the subject of disability studies. The book tackles a wide range of issues in numerous succinct chapters written by contributing authors, many of whom are disabled themselves. From the outset, the chapters take a multidisciplinary and international approach.

The third edition is made up of 42 chapters, 15 of which are completely new to this edition, including:

·       Early seminal writings in disabled studies

·       Death and dying

·       Psychology

·       Hate crime and the criminal justice system

·       Sport

·       Psycho-emotional disablism and internal oppression.

This seminal textbook conveys the continuing developments in the lives and experiences of disabled people. It is valuable reading for students and professionals in the fields of social work, sociology, social policy, health and nursing as well as disabled people.