Disabled Rights

"Freedom and Justice for all" is a phrase that can have a hollow ring for many members of the disability community in the United States. Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer gives us a comprehensive introduction to and overview of U.S. disability policy in all facets of society, including education, the workplace, and social integration. Disabled Rights provides an interdisciplinary approach to the history and politics of the disability rights movement and assesses the creation and implementation, successes and failures of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by federal, state and local governments.

Disabled Rights explains how people with disabilities have been treated from a social, legal, and political perspective in the United States. With an objective and straightforward approach, Switzer identifies the programs and laws that have been enacted in the past fifty years and how they have affected the lives of people with disabilities. She raises questions about Congressional intent in passing the ADA, the evolution and fragmentation of the disability rights movement, and the current status of disabled people in the U.S.

Illustrating the shift of disability issues from a medical focus to civil rights, the author clearly defines the contemporary role of persons with disabilities in American culture, and comprehensively outlines the public and private programs designed to integrate disabled persons into society. She covers the law's provisions as they apply to private organizations and businesses and concludes with the most up-to-date coverage of recent Supreme Court decisions-especially since the 2000-2002 terms-that have profoundly influenced the implementation of the ADA and other disability policies.

For activists as well as scholars, students, and practitioners in public policy and public administration, Switzer has written a compassionate, yet powerful book that demands attention from everyone interested in the battle for disability rights and equality in the United States.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Demographics of Disability
Understanding Disability Policy
A Word about Language

Chapter 1: Disabled Policymaking/Disabled Policy
The Paradigm Shift
Overview of the Policymaking Process
Key Stakeholders

Chapter 2: History of Segragation and Stereotypes
"The Problem of Feeblemindedness"
Assistance and Treatment
The Stereotypes Continue

Chapter 3: Compensation and Rehabilitation
Historical Basis of Compensation
Industrial-Related Disabilities
Social Security
The Disability Insurance Crisis
Vocational Education
1973 Rehabilitation Act
Education for Disabled Children
Disability as a Business/Rehabilitation as an Industry
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999

Chapter 4: Social and Political Activism
Disability Rights as a Social Movement
Disability Interest Groups
Berkeley and the Independent Living Movement
"The Splintered Universe"
Coalition Building and Cross-Disability Activism
Demonstrations and Protests
Litigation

Chapter 5: The ADA and the Vision of Equality
Developing a Naitonal Policy: Early Initiatives
Opening the Policy Window
Policy Environment
Legislative Building Blocks
United We Stand
Friends in High Places
Legislative Process
Stealth Campaign
Opposition Forces

Chapter 6: The ADA as Policy
Provisions of the Law
Implementation and Rulemaking
Enforcement
Litigation
Key Litigation Issues
Fusion of Positive and Negative Rights

Chapter 7: Life beyond the ADA: Policy Hot Buttons
Reproductive Rights and Technology
Not Dead Yet
Jerry's Kids and Telethons
Christopher Reeve and the Myht of the Supercrip
Deaf Culture and Cochlear Implants
The Intergration Mandate
Violence against People with Disabilities
Invisible Disabilities

Chapter 8: Status Report on Equality
Attitudes and Public Opinion
Employment
Social Integration
Barriers to Independence
Transportation
Health Care
Housing
Overall Analysis

Epilogue

Appendices
Appendix A: Suggestions for Further Reading
Appendix B: Selected Disability Periodicals and Media
Appendix C: Annotated Guide to Nongovernmental Disability Organizations
Appendix D: Chronology of Important Events in the History and Development of American Disability Policy

Notes

Index

Reviews

"Links to Nongovernmental Disability Organizations



The following links are from Appendix C of Disabled Rights


Adaptive Environments Center


Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf


Alliance for Technology Access


American Association of People with Disabilities


American Association for the Deaf-Blind


American Association on Mental Retardation


American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law


American Council of the Blind


American Diabetes Foundation


American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT)


American Foundation for the Blind


American Institute of Architects


American Society for Deaf Children


Arthritis Foundation


Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living


Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)


Attention Deficit Information Network


Autism Society of America


Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law


Center for Universal Design


Cochlear Implant Association


Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities


Council for Disability Rights


Council for Exceptional Children


Disability Resources, Inc.


Disability Rights Advocates


Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc.


Disabled Peoples International


Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association


Epilepsy Foundation


International Dyslexia Association


Job Accomodation Network (JAN)


Justice for All


League for the Hard of Hearing


Learning Disabilities Association of America


Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America


Little People of America


Lupus Foundation of America


MadNation


Mainstream, Inc.


Mental Disability Rights International


Mobility International USA


Muscular Dystrophy Association


National Alliance for the Mentally Ill


National Association for the Visually Handicapped


National Association of the Deaf


National Association of Homebuilders Research Center


Natioal Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems


National Center for Dissemination of Disability Research


National Council on Independent Living


National Disability Party


National Down Syndrome Society


National Easter Seals Society


National Federation of the Blind


National Hemophilia Foundation


National Mental Health Association


National Multiple Sclerosis Society


National Organization on Disability


National Osteoporosis Foundation


National Spinal Cord Injury Association


Not Dead Yet


Paralyzed Veterans of America


Parkinson's Disease Foundation


Rehabilitation International


Self Help for Hard of Hearing People


Society for Disability Studies


Spina Bifida Association of America


TASH


United Cerebral Palsy Association


Very Special Arts


Western Law Center for Disability Rights


World Institute on Disability"—

"Links to Selected Disability Periodicals and Media



The following links are from Appendix B of Disabled Rights


Abilities


ABILITY Magazine


AccessWorld


American Council of the Blind Radio


AnAurora Magazine for Women


Braille Forum


Braille Monitor


Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Electronic Newsletter


Closing the Gap


Council for Exceptional Children Online


Dialogue Magazine


Disability Resources Monthly


Disability Studies Online Magazine


Disability Studies Quarterly


Disability Times


Disability World


Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Action


Enabled Online


iCAN Online


Inclusion Daily Express


Justice for All E-Network


Little People of America Online


Mainstream Magazine Online


Mouth


National Alliance for the Mentally Ill E-News


National Organization on Disability E-Newsletter


New Mobility Magazine


On A Roll Radio


Ragged Edge Magazine


Reach Out Magazine


Volta Review/Volta Voices


WE Magazine
"—

"Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer has captured the history, politics, and evolution—indeed the soul—of the civil rights movement for people with disabilities. Readers of this book will come away with a comprehensive understanding of the discrimination facing people with disabilities and the hard fought struggles which have created legal protections for Americans who experience disability."—Stephen L. Percy, director of Center for Urban Initiatives and Research & professor of political science, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

"The particular strength of Switzer's book is the scope of its examination of disability policy, incorporating concepts from policy analysis, social science, and disability studies, as well as contemporary and historical accounts. The book should be a useful resource for anyone interested in disability policy and the context within which it operates."—Richard Scotch, professor of sociology and political economy, University of Texas at Dallas

"Jacqueline Switzer has written a comprehensive treatment of this nation's disability policy with a remarkable depth of understanding. Switzer's work is fresh, powerful. This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to know what disability policy is, what it does and does not do, and why."—Kay Schriner, research professor, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas and founding editor of the Journal of Disability Policy Studies

Contributors

Supplemental Materials

Awards

About the Author

Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer is an associate professor of political science at Northern Arizona University.