Encyclopedia Of Disability

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*Starred Review* One would expect to find discussion of such topics as accessibility, assistive technology, and mainstreaming in a reference source called Encyclopedia of Disability --but readers might be surprised to find Archaeology; Dickens, Charles; Norse sagas; and Postcolonialism in the list of entries. The wide range of coverage distinguishes this particular set, which was designed "to bring current knowledge and experience with disability across a wide variety of places, conditions, and cultures to both the general reader and the specialist."
Editor Albrecht (University of Illinois at Chicago) and over 500 authors from around the world contributed the more than 800 entries. Almost 200 of the entries are biographical, treating individuals from Homer and Socrates to Helen Keller and Franklin Roosevelt. Others treat history (Deaf, history of the; Freak show; History of disability: Medical care in Renaissance Europe); types of disability (Down syndrome, Multiple sclerosis,Obesity); medical and health concerns (Physical therapy, Genetic counseling, Managed care); legal and social matters (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Deinstitutionalization, Public transportation); attitudes and conditions affecting daily life (Confinement, Deformity,Stigma); and more. A series of entries under the heading Experience of Disability discusses conditions in 13 countries, including Brazil, Ireland, and Japan. Entry length generally ranges from around 200 words to 10 pages. Most entries conclude with citations for further readings, and many also offer lists of Web sites.

The text is supported by a number of black-and-white illustrations, many of which show depictions of disability in works of art and film. All of the illustrations are contained in volume 5, which is also home to documents representing the "first effort at compiling primary source materials on disability." The documents are organized by historical period and arranged chronologically, from ancient Sumerian proverbs to Andrea Dworkin's 2005 essay "Through the Pain Barrier." Each document has a brief introduction that supplies context. Following the documents are a chronology and a section on finding and evaluating Web sites. To aid the reader, each volume includes an alphabetical list of entries and a "Reader's Guide," which groups entries under broad subject categories. Documents are also listed under pertinent categories here, providing useful links between documents and related text. Volume 4 contains a 120-page bibliography and the set index. A small inconvenience is that the index, though detailed, does not reference volume numbers, except in the case of the documents found in volume 5.

The encyclopedia's very inclusiveness inevitably gives rise to questions about what has been left out. Why is there an entry for the experience of disability in Costa Rica but not Nicaragua? Why is there an entry for Vincent Van Gogh but not Henri Toulouse-Lautrec? These questions are minor, however, compared to the achievement of drawing in readers from a wide range of studies and interests and helping them to see disability in an entirely new way. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries. Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"The wide range of coverage distinguishes this particular set, which was designed "to bring current knowledge and experience with disability across a wide variety of places, conditions, and cultures to both the general reader and the specialist." Editor Albrecht (University of Illinois at Chicago) and over 500 authors from around the world contributed the more than 800 entries...drawing in readers from a wide range of studies and interests and helping them to see disability in an entirely new way. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries." -- BOOKLIST (starred review) BOOKLIST (starred review) "In this impressive work, editor Albrecht (public health, disability & human development, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago) offers a multidisciplinary, multicultural look at a vast array of disability issues. More than 500 international scholars have contributed entries that span the globe and the centuries, from the Pleistocene era to the present. The first four volumes contain upward of 1000 A-to-Z entries, each ranging in length from one paragraph to ten pages and ending with a bibliography of texts and web sites. Among these entries are 200-plus biographies covering people of all regions and eras (e.g., Aesop, FDR). A readers guide in each volume groups the entries into 25 topical categories that not only cover well-known disability issues in the fields of law, education, medicine, economics, and social policy but also delve into the realms of the arts, religion, science, and philosophy. The fifth volume is composed of primary-source texts and images organized by historical period and from a variety of cultures. Bottom line: Reflects Albrecht's commitment to giving readers not just facts and theories but a personal, lived perspective on disability. His work provides a holistic view of disability and addresses the social contributions of people with disabilities as well as the challenges they face. The only really comprehensive resource on disability; this is an important foundation for disability collections in any academic, public, or high school library." -- Nadine Cohen-Baker LIBRARY JOURNAL 20060501 "This excellent comprehensive resource covers the world of disabilities from 2000 BCE to the present. This encyclopedia not only includes what one would expect to find, such as material describing disabilities, ethical issues, health care, and many other topics, but also passages from literature and information on the experience of disability in various countries around the world. The entries are signed and many include further readings, Web site, and conclusions. The multivolume set is well cross-referenced. It offers a little extra, including a section titled "Searching for and Evaluating Web Sites," written by a librarian. Summing Up: Highly recommended." -- S. J. Bryant 20060609 "Each document is briefly introduced and noted in both the index and reader's guide. Numerous illustrations demonstrate the depiction of disability in art and film. All in all, this encyclopedia demonstrates that the world of disability is almost as broad and as intriguing as the human condition itself. This excellent introduction will serve both academic and public libraries." -- John Lawrence 20060801 "The editors of the Encyclopedia of Disability provide readers with a broad perspective on the experience of disability. This remarkable array of material is diverse from both a chronological and a cultural perspective. From the entries chronicling those who have influenced the disability rights movement to the basic definitions and description of issues fundamental to disability, the Encyclopedia of Disability proves to be a comprehensive resource." -- Robert G. Frank Contemporary Psychology



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