Children with Disabilities in America

PHILIP L. SAFFORD is Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, and Associate Director of Teacher Licensure, Case Western University.ELIZABETH J. SAFFORD is Reference Librarian, Nevins Library, Methuen, Mass.

• PrefaceIntroductionEssaysMultilingual, Multicultural, Multitalented: The History of a Diverse People by Roberta Thoryk, Angela Battistone-Potosky, and Fred PalchikReaching Across the Divide: Visual Disability and American Childhood by Carol Linsenmeier and Jeff MoyerThe Progressive Movement and the Child with Physical Disabilities by Brad ByromA Matter of Difference: A Contextual Perspective on the History of Children with Mental Retardation in the United States by Elizabeth L. BrennanChildren Being Different, Difficult, or Disturbed in America by Philip L. Safford, and Elizabeth J. SaffordResource DocumentsDeafness and ChildhoodVisual Disability and ChildhoodOther Physical Disability and ChildhoodCognitive Disability and ChildhoodTroubled, Troubling, and Troublesome ChildrenBibliography and Resources for InquiryName IndexSubject Index

Disability in America, like race, is a social construct. Despite changes in laws and mores, children with disabilities grow up in a culture dominated by unexamined assumptions. The medical model of disability focuses on the disease and often ignores the context of the child's life. Many Americans were shocked by the demands for access and self-determination voiced by the disability rights movement that sprang up in the late 20th century. This book fills a void. Within it, readers will readily find stories of American childhood, education, special education, and the battle for inclusion. Few available works share the breadth of this title, other than academic dissertations and scholarly papers. The editors examine the images and realities for children with many different disabilities throughout American history. In the process they provide an excellent introduction for college readers and a solid reference source for further research. Highly recommended. All academic and public libraries; all levels.