This book examines how and why mothers with disabled children became activists. Leading campaigns to close institutions and secure human rights, these women learned to mother as activists, struggling in their homes and communities against the debilitating and demoralizing effects of exclusion. Activist mothers recognized the importance of becoming advocates for change beyond their own families and contributed to building an organization to place their issues on a more public scale. In highlighting this under-examined movement, this book contributes to the scholarship on Disability Studies, Women's Students, Sociology, and Social Movement Studies.

About the Author
Melanie Panitch is Director of the School of Disability Studies and Co-Director of the Ryerson RBC Foundation Institute for Disability Studies Research and Education at Ryerson University.

Reviews

"How do ordinary people become activists? How do women marginalized as volunteers become political leaders? How did middle-class Canadian mothers change the professional practices and public laws impacting their disabled children? Skillfully combining methods and insights from women's studies and disability studies to deepen our understanding of women's and disabled people's history, Melanie Panitch's instructive monograph tells us how."

Paul K. Longmore
Professor, Department of History
San Francisco State University

"In the best traditions of feminist scholarship, Melanie Panitch uncovers the inspiring history of mothers in the battle for equality for people with disabilities. Disability, Mothers and Organization: Accidental Activists shows the reader in an accessible and enjoyable narrative the important role that mothers of disabled children played in the fight for equality facing not only the discrimination and stereotyping of their children but also of themselves as women. Bravo for this important new contribution to women's and disability studies."

Judy Rebick

CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy

Ryerson University

"Panitch captures the spirit behind two movements that changed the lives ofcountless people with intellectual disabilities in Canada - deinstitutionalization and human rights -- and shows how mothers made the difference. Her book illustrates how three women bucked traditional expectations for being 'good mothers' and became national leaders and heroes. Poignant, instructive and inspirational."

Diane Richler, CM

President

Inclusion International

Book Information
ISBN 9780415998963
Author Melanie Panitch
Format Paperback
Page Count 234
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g