Allies and obstacles : disability activism and parents of children with disabilities

Parents of children with disabilities often situate their activism as a means of improving the world for their child. However, some disabled activists perceive parental activism as working against the independence and dignity of people with disabilities. This thorny relationship is at the heart of the groundbreaking Allies and Obstacles. The authors chronicle parents' path-breaking advocacy in arenas such as the right to education and to liberty via deinstitutionalization as well as how they engaged in legal and political advocacy. Allies and Obstacles provides a macro analysis of parent activism using a social movement perspective to reveal and analyze the complex—and often tense—relationship of parents to disability rights organizations and activism. The authors look at organizational and individual narratives using four case studies that focus on intellectual disability, psychiatric diagnoses, autism, and a broad range of physical disabilities including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. These cases explore the specific ways in which activism developed among parents and people with disabilities, as well as the points of alliance and the key points of contestation. Ultimately, Allies and Obstacles develops new insights into disability activism, policy, and the family. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Disability Activist Communities 1. Intellectual Disability and Parent Activism 2. Psychiatric Diagnosis, Disability, and Parent Activism 3. Autistic Identity and Parent Activism 4. Physical Disabilities and Parent Activism Part II: Cross-Disability Analysis 5. Timing: Factors Affecting the Emergence of Parent-Led Organizations 6. Frames and Positions within the Field of Disability Activism 7. Social Movement Strategies and Public Policy 8. Narratives of Rights 9. Parents, Children, and Advocacy across Life Transitions Conclusion Appendix: A Note on Methods Notes Bibliography Index Introduction -- Intellectual disability and parent activism -- Psychiatric diagnosis, disability, and parent activism -- Autistic identity and parent activism -- Physical disability and parent activism -- Timing, factors affecting the emergence of parent -- Frames and positions within the field of disability activism -- Social movement strategies and public policy -- Narratives of rights -- Parents, children, and advocacy across life transitions -- Conclusion "This book explores the tensions between the disability rights groups advocating on behalf of people with intellectual, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders including autism and allied advocacy groups representing parents with children in those communities. These groups diverge over issues like independence and recovery, and in their cultural and political capital." -- Provided by publisher