Encyclopedia of Disability
- Gary L Albrecht - University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
To read some sample entries, or to view the Readers Guide click on "Additional Materials" in the left column under "About This Book". The wide range of coverage distinguishes this particular set, which was designed "to bring current knowledge and experience with disability across a wide variety of places, conditions, and cultures to both the general reader and the specialist." Editor Albrecht (University of Illinois at Chicago) and over 500 authors from around the world contributed the more than 800 entries. . . drawing in readers from a wide range of studies and interests and helping them to see disability in an entirely new way. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries." -- BOOKLIST (star review)
Obesity. Heart disease. Vision problems. Asthma. AIDS. Depression. Those maimed by land mines, machetes, bullets, bombs and beatings. These are just a few examples of how disability is becoming an increasingly common experience in our daily lives. Regardless of who we are or where we live, disability is with us.
SAGE Reference is proud to announce the five-volume Encyclopedia of Disability. This Encyclopedia represents the first attempt to bring an authoritative reference resource to the many faces of disability. It provides a fascinating entry into the world of disability where minds are expanded, prejudices shattered, and spirits raised. The Encyclopedia answers the question: What is disability and why is it important in my life? An international editorial board of seventy-four editors from the Americas, Europe, Australia, India, Japan, and China, all experts in their own sub-fields of disability, developed these volumes. The result is a multidisciplinary, cross-cultural, and historically grounded resource tool that guides the reader across fields, theories, debates, and practices.
Key Features
- Embraces five volumes that improve the reader's understanding and appreciation of the world of disability: Volumes 1 - 4 cover disability A, including a Reader's Guide, comprehensive bibliography, and index, and Volume 5 contains a wealth of primary source documents in the field of disability
- Includes contributions from more than 500 world-renowned scholars who have written over 1,000 entries—in a clear, accessible style—with the desire to bring all students, researchers, and interested readers closer to the daily experience of disability
- Provides print and Web site references to government documents and data that are rich resources to investigate how disability is measured and treated on an international level
- Includes a chronology to place the concept of disability in a historical context
The Encyclopedia of Disability is a must-have reference for all academic libraries, large public libraries, and any social science, medical, legal, or governmental reference collections. Non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations, and law firms will also want to add this set to their collection.
Senior Editors
Jerome Bickenbach, Queen's University
Scott Brown
Dudley Childress, Northwestern University Medical School
Joseph Flaherty, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Allen Heinemann, Northwestern University
Tamar Heller, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Christopher Keys, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
David Mitchell, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Trevor Parmenter, University of Sydney, Australia
Mairian Scott-Hill, Marsh Hills Cottage
Tom Shakespeare, University of Newcastle
Sharon Snyder, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
If you have any questions, or would like more information on this title, or any other SAGE reference product, please email: carmel.withers@sagepub.com
"The wide range of coverage distinguishes this particular set, which was designed “to bring current knowledge and experience with disability across a wide variety of places, conditions, and cultures to both the general reader and the specialist.” Editor Albrecht (University of Illinois at Chicago) and over 500 authors from around the world contributed the more than 800 entries...drawing in readers from a wide range of studies and interests and helping them to see disability in an entirely new way. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries."
"In this impressive work, editor Albrecht (public health, disability & human development, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago) offers a multidisciplinary, multicultural look at a vast array of disability issues. More than 500 international scholars have contributed entries that span the globe and the centuries, from the Pleistocene era to the present. The first four volumes contain upward of 1000 A-to-Z entries, each ranging in length from one paragraph to ten pages and ending with a bibliography of texts and web sites. Among these entries are 200-plus biographies covering people of all regions and eras (e.g., Aesop, FDR). A readers guide in each volume groups the entries into 25 topical categories that not only cover well-known disability issues in the fields of law, education, medicine, economics, and social policy but also delve into the realms of the arts, religion, science, and philosophy. The fifth volume is composed of primary-source texts and images organized by historical period and from a variety of cultures. Bottom line: Reflects Albrecht's commitment to giving readers not just facts and theories but a personal, lived perspective on disability. His work provides a holistic view of disability and addresses the social contributions of people with disabilities as well as the challenges they face. The only really comprehensive resource on disability; this is an important foundation for disability collections in any academic, public, or high school library."
"This excellent comprehensive resource covers the world of disabilities from 2000 BCE to the present. This encyclopedia not only includes what one would expect to find, such as material describing disabilities, ethical issues, health care, and many other topics, but also passages from literature and information on the experience of disability in various countries around the world. The entries are signed and many include further readings, Web site, and conclusions. The multivolume set is well cross-referenced. It offers a little extra, including a section titled "Searching for and Evaluating Web Sites," written by a librarian. Summing Up: Highly recommended."
"Each document is briefly introduced and noted in both the index and reader's guide. Numerous illustrations demonstrate the depiction of disability in art and film. All in all, this encyclopedia demonstrates that the world of disability is almost as broad and as intriguing as the human condition itself. This excellent introduction will serve both academic and public libraries."
"The editors of the Encyclopedia of Disability provide readers with a broad perspective on the experience of disability. This remarkable array of material is diverse from both a chronological and a cultural perspective. From the entries chronicling those who have influenced the disability rights movement to the basic definitions and description of issues fundamental to disability, the Encyclopedia of Disability proves to be a comprehensive resource."
