Disabled Children: Contested Caring, 1850–1979 (Studies for the Society for the Social History of Medicine)

This volume of essays attempts to identify the shared experiences of disabled children and examine the key debates about their care and control. The essays follow a chronological progression while focusing on the practices in a number of different countries. This volume of essays explores the varied, but distinctive, experiences of disabled children. The authors start from the premise that the care, and control, of such individuals was historically governed by factors that differentiated their experiences from those of 'normal' children and 'disabled' adults. Attempts to identify the shared experiences of disabled children allows re-examination of the key historical debates. The care of disabled children was always contested and this became more important over time. From the middle of the nineteenth century families were increasingly encouraged, even coerced, to engage with approved health and education services. Such provision helped to forge the identities and determine the experiences of disabled children. The essays follow a chronological progression while focusing on practice in a number of different countries