Disability Theory in Context
- Jasmine P. BrownJasmine P. BrownUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
- and Yolanda Suarez-BalcazarYolanda Suarez-BalcazarUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
Summary
The condition of disability and disabled persons in society has shifted and transformed throughout time and history with the rise of medical interventions, capitalism, and disability advocacy. This article discusses the different theories and models that have dominated the study of disability and further explains the contributions of disability theory on disability identity, as well as the intersection of disability and race. Also, with the rise of the social model ideals, there has been an increase in advocacy and empowerment within the disability community. This article concludes with an overview of advocacy and empowerment interventions for and with individuals with disabilities and recommendations for future research in sociology.
