Now in its sixth edition, this best-selling textbook continues to be the most comprehensive and diverse text available on the psychosocial aspects of disability. It examines current thought and treatment approaches to working with individuals with disabilities through the contributions of expert thinkers and practitioners in the disability field. Abundant and insightful narratives by disabled individuals offer a bridge between theory and practice for students in rehabilitation psychology and counseling courses. In addition to completely updated and reorganized material, this edition contains iinsightful new section introductions, empirically based research articles, and the contributions of international researchers presenting a more global and richer perspective on the psychosocial aspects of disability and illness. It also contains an increased focus on the negative impact of societal attitudes and treatment of disabled individuals on their psychological adjustment to disability. The addition of objectives at the beginning of each chapter and review questions and personal perspectives at the end of each chapter further facilitate in-depth learning.

Historical Perspectives on Illness and Disability: Introduction -- The Personal Impact of Disability: Introduction -- Family Issues in Illness and Disability: Introduction -- Interventions and Resources: Introduction -- New Directions: Issues and Perspectives: Introduction -- Perspective Exercises -- Personal Perspectives. DISABILITY AS A PUNISHMENT FOR SINANXIETY-PROVOKING UNSTRUCTURED SITUATIONS; AESTHETIC AVERSION; THREATS TO BODY IMAGE INTEGRITY; MINORITY GROUP COMPARABILITY; DISABILITY AS A REMINDER OF DEATH; PREJUDICE-INVITING BEHAVIORS; THE INFLUENCE OF DISABILITY-RELATED FACTORS; DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTITUDES; PERSONALITY VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTITUDES; SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS; REFERENCES; 3. History of Treatment Toward Persons With Psychiatric Disabilities; MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES; COLONIAL AMERICA; MENTAL ILLNESS IN 19TH-CENTURY AMERICA. Mental illness and treatment at the turn of the centurythe shifting public view of psychiatry; development of treatments in the 20th century; the second world war and its influence on mental health; classification of mental illness; deinstitutionalization; disillusionment with the promises of deinstitutionalization; mental illness and the criminal justice system; abuse of persons with mental illness; social security beneficiaries; continued stigma against people with mental illness; current issues regarding mental illness and its treatment; references. 4. Social Work Practice With People With Disabilities in the Era of Disability RightsTHE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT; Traditional Approaches to Disability in Health and Rehabilitation Settings; ORIENTATION TOWARD THE ROLE OF THE PATIENT: THE P ATIENT-CONSUMER CONUNDRUM; Orientation Toward Independence; Orientation Toward Technology; OPERATING OUT OF A DISABILITY RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE; Empowering People With Disabilities; CONCLUSIONS; NOTES; REFERENCES; 5. Models of Disability: Implications for the Counseling Profession; THE BIOMEDICAL MODEL; FUNCTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MODELS. THE SOCIOPOLITICAL MODELTHE POWER OF MODELS; Lack of Interagency Collaboration; Shaping Self-Identities and Daily Lives; Determining Which Academic Disciplines Teach About the Disability Experience; IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNSELING PROFESSION; REFERENCES; 6. Changes in Attitudes Toward People With Handicaps; AFFIRMATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS; MANIFESTATIONS IN PRACTIC; PROSPECTS; REFERENCES; Historical Perspectives on Illness and Disability: Conclusion; DISCUSSION QUESTIONS; PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE; COPING WITH A JOURNEY TOWARD RECOVERY: FROM THE INSIDE OUT; PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE EXERCISE.