Faculty Publications

Democratizing Disability Inquiry

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Disability Policy Studies

Volume

10

Issue

2

First Page

186

Last Page

206

Abstract

The advent of the disability rights movement poses what some suggest to be a conundrum for disability researchers concerned with issues of community and education services, supports, and policy: Have we, in fact, now entered a brave new world of policy decisions based not on detached science but on the impulsive desires of a decidedly ideological collective? In response, we offer an analysis of two related policy debates, deinstitutionalization and school inclusion. We then apply lessons derived from both controversies to suggest a framework of participatory democracy for proceeding with inquiry at a time when people with disabilities are demanding that their voices be heard in research and policy discussions. This charge to mandate or demand is arising on a multitude of contested fronts, including debates over the use of aversives, access to literacy instruction, and—quite prominently—access to facilitated communication training. © 2000, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Special Education

Original Publication Date

1-1-2000

DOI of published version

10.1177/104420730001000204

Link to Full Text

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