People with intellectual disabilities: Towards a good life?

by Kelley Johnson, Jan Walmsley, Marie Wolfe (Adapted by)

Overview

What does it mean to live a good life? Why has it proved so difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to live one? What happens when we make a good life the centre of our consideration of people with intellectual disabilities? These questions are explored through a re-examination of ideas from philosophy and social theory, and through personal life stories. This important and timely book provides an analysis and critique of current policies and underpinning ideologies in relation to people with intellectual disabilities and explores ways in which a good life may be made more attainable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847420688
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	09/24/2010
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Kelley Johnson is Professor of Disability Policy and Practice at the University of Bristol. Prior to this she was a Marie Curie Fellow at Trinity College Dublin where she facilitated a national programme on inclusive research with people with intellectual disabilities.

Jan Walmsley is Visiting Chair in the History of Learning Disability at the Open Universityand a founder member of the Social History of Learning Disability Research Group. She currently works as an independent researcher and consultant.

Marie Wolfe is a self-advocate living in Ireland. She has been advocating for rights for people with intellectual disabilities for some years and sees it as her vocation.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements iv

Introduction: exploring a good life 1

Part 1 Reflecting on a good life 15

1 My own life Marie Wolfe Keliey Johnson 17

2 Thinking about a good life 31

3 A good life and people with intellectual disabilities 49

Part 2 Re-examining key concepts in the light of current practice 61

4 A good life in policy 63

5 Changing problems, changing solutions 81

6 Changing constructions of work 99

Part 3 Rethinking a good life 111

7 Justice, rights and capabilities 115

8 Community, inclusion and belonging 131

9 Promoting a good life 151

Conclusion 171

Bibliography 177

Index 199

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book challenges current ideas on what constitutes a 'good enough' life for people with intellectual disabilities and proposes new ideas on how to make a truly 'good life' possible." Dorothy Atkinson, Open University

"If you need to be challenged to reflect on what 'a good life' should mean for people with intellectual disabilities this book is an excellent place to begin that quest." Gordon Grant, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University

Editorial Reviews

"British researchers Kelley Johnson and Jan Walmsley are well known in the field of disability studies for their innovative work around inclusive research... Together they've written this rather wonderful book which deserves our attention ...if you are going to read one book this year, and you care about people with disabilities, this might be a great choice." Aaron Johannes, Spectrum Society for Community Living

"This book challenges current ideas on what constitutes a 'good enough' life for people with intellectual disabilities and proposes new ideas on how to make a truly 'good life' possible." Dorothy Atkinson, Open University

"If you need to be challenged to reflect on what 'a good life' should mean for people with intellectual disabilities this book is an excellent place to begin that quest." Gordon Grant, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University

From the Publisher