First published in 1985. Information technology can offer huge benefits to the disabled. It can help many disabled people to overcome barriers of time and space and to a much greater extent it can help them to overcome barriers of communication. In that way new information technology offers opportunities to neutralise the worst effects of many kinds of disablement. This book reviews the possibilities of using information technology in the education of the disabled. Commencing with an assessment of the learning problems faced by disabled people, it goes on to look at the scope of information technology and how it has been used for the education of students of all ages, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. A penultimate section considers most of the contentious issues that faced users of technology, whilst the conclusion devotes itself to the immediate and longer-term future, suggesting possible future trends and the consequent problems that may arise.

First published in 1985. Information technology can offer huge benefits to the disabled. It can help many disabled people to overcome barriers of time and space and to a much greater extent it can help them to overcome barriers of communication. In that way new information technology offers opportunities to neutralise the worst effects of many kinds of disablement. This book reviews the possibilities of using information technology in the education of the disabled. Commencing with an assessment of the learning problems faced by disabled people, it goes on to look at the scope of information technology and how it has been used for the education of students of all ages, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. A penultimate section considers most of the contentious issues that faced users of technology, whilst the conclusion devotes itself to the immediate and longer-term future, suggesting possible future trends and the consequent problems that may arise.

This important text draws together a wealth of experience to present theoretical and practical insights into the way society intervenes in the lives of disabled people, and considers how resources could be used in ways that are more helpful and supportive. Stressing the social contexts within which disabilities become apparent, the contributors highlight two key points: disabled people have practical difficulties only in the area of life affected by their disability and in other respects are no different from anyone else; and they are handicapped not by the parameters of their disability but by the demands and attitudes of society. The contributors consider the position of people with specific types of disability, explore both sides of the `care' and `counselling' equation, and discuss training, legislation and aspects of management and attitudes among professionals. Beyond Disability has been developed as a Course Reader for the Open University course The Disabling Society (K255).

An important new text, Beyond Disability draws together a wealth of experience to present theoretical and practical insights into the way in which society intervenes in the lives of disabled people, and considers how resources could be used to be more supportive and helpful. The contributors stress the social contexts within which disabilities become apparent, highlighting that disabled people: only have practical difficulties in the area of life affected by their disability, and in other respects are no different from anyone else. are handicapped not by the parameters of their disability but by the demands and attitudes of society. This enlightening text demonstrates that society's interventions do not always achieve the aim of helping and supporting but can sometimes be counterproductive; at worst, they demean and diminish individuals. In the process of making suggestions for improving services, the contributors consider the position of people with specific types of disability, explore both sides of the "care" and "counseling" equations, and discuss training, legislation, and aspects of management and attitudes among professionals. Students, researchers, and practitioners alike in social work, health and medicine, nursing, and social policy will find this text an important contribution to thought on the disabled in society. Beyond Disability is also a course reader for The Open University Course, "The Disabling Society."