Psychosocial Aspects of Disability

This new edition of Psychosocial Aspects of Disability strikes a balance of past, present, and future views of individual, family, societal, and governmental interaction and reaction to persons with disabilities. The past is presented in Part 1, Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities, in which a view of the evolution of societal reactions to disabilities and persons with disability is presented. This perspective is important because it explains how some of the beliefs and attitudes toward disabilities and those who have a disability have developed. Additionally, Part 1 makes us aware from a historical perspective why persons with disabilities have been subject to certain types of treatment from family, friends, and society. Parts 2 and 3 provide discussion of present situations for persons with disabilities as they move toward better inclusion in society: Chapter 5 discusses the need for empowerment of persons with disabilities and how they can empower themselves. Chapter 6 discusses the need for better employment opportunities for persons with disabilities because this is a significant way of empowering persons with disabilities. Chapter 7 discusses federal legislation that has been developed to facilitate the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Part 4, Psychosocial Issues, to a large extent, represents the future for persons with disabilities. The chapters in this section discuss some disability issues that some persons with disabilities will encounter and/or by which they will be affected during the twenty-first century. Additionally, there is discussion of the need for persons with disabilities to attain the full human rights to which they are entitled.