Introduction

This introductory essay by the editors situates disability and its narration within the broader contexts of geography, cartography, and physical space. Opening with the ethical complexities of mapmaking and a brief discussion of the medical and social models of disability, the writers examine how bodies and minds with differing impairments move through diverse places in the world and how ableist assumptions reside in and impede movements in various locales. The essay serves as an overview of the central concerns of the volume, prompting readers to consider the complex intersections of disability, power, and place.