Nothing Without Us: Disability, Critical Thought, and Social Change in a Globalizing World

This introductory chapter has been titled: “Nothing Without Us” to reflect our shared belief that inclusion requires much more than changing people with disabilities. This motto has changed a little from the usual rallying cry of the disability movement. It is about shifting, rethinking, and adapting situations and environments to enable inclusion of people with disabilities. It is not enough to only worry about people with disabilities – the shift must be to remedy all societies that exclude people. This chapter provides an overview of the origins of the Handbook and ideas behind it; the evolution of critical disability advocacy, scholarship and education programs; and suggestions on how to read and access the contents within the 92 chapters that comprise this volume.