The Palgrave Handbook of Disabled Childrens Childhood Studies

Disabled childrens lives have often been discussed through medical concepts of disability rather than concepts of childhood. Western understandings of childhood have defined disabled children against child development norms and have provided the rationale for segregated or special welfare and education provision. In contrast, disabled childrens childhood studies begins with the view that studies of childrens impairment are not studies of their childhoods. Disabled childrens childhood studies demands ethical research practices that position disabled children and young people at the centre of the inquiry outside of the shadow of perceived norms. The Palgrave Handbook of Disabled Childrens Childhood Studies will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines, as well as practitioners in health, education, social work and youth work.