Belonging in the Life Journeys of People with Disabilities (eBook)

Focusing on the commonly advocated concept of social inclusion in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, this book argues that the current approach has not succeeded in supporting people to lead good lives in the community.

It instead advocates the importance of belonging as a basis for a good life, and examines the implications of belonging at both conceptual and practical levels for educators and social workers. The book includes the life histories of various individuals, detailing their experiences with unbelonging, and their differing journeys navigating society as people with disabilities. Far from being an easily defined category, this book provides a multifaceted and nuanced perspective on what it means to be human, too commonly overlooked in conventional human rights discussions.

This is a vital work in the field of research regarding human rights. It will appeal to scholars, activists, and persons with disabilities who are interested in looking beyond traditional discourse, to a new future of human rights with belonging as a key part of socialisation, and its implications for public policy.