dibiz116's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
A great overview of not just a history of disability rights in the US, but also of the definition of what a disability has been considered to be over the entire history of the country beginning with the indigenous tribes before colonization. The latter of this is what I found the most enlightening and thought provoking. It's quite a short read, so in no way can cover everything, but is obviously intended as a jumping off point not as a in-depth study. This book made me analyze what I thought I knew about not simply disabilities but the way people (both who would today be considered disabled and not) across our history have been treated. Highly recommend.
confused_about_life94's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Well researched and a needed examination of disability in US history. At under 200 pages, this is not a book that gets into detailed content about individuals or events, but serves as an introduction and overview of a topic rarely addressed in history classes and books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, and Ableism
Minor: Classism, Racism, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
vercopaanir's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Though informative and useful, I found the writing bland and it took me a while to get through. There were also a lot of typos and errors that affected the comprehension of what I was reading until I went back and tried again. Overall a useful read, one that fits into my special interests, and one I may read again in order to annotate, but not necessarily a good read.
motormouth95's review against another edition
4.0
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in History, and will most likely start work on a Master's degree in Public History within a year or so. I also have the spastic hemipegia form of Cerebral Palsy, among many other medical issues. Suffice it to say that this book easily ranks among the most important and personal historical nonfiction books I've ever read. I've always thought about what could've happened to me if I had been born only a mere decade before my birth year.
I required years of various forms of therapy and accommodations to get to where I am today. What if I didn't have access to them? What if my job refused to hire me? What if my teachers and professors hadn't looked passed the limp, the occasional stutter, or the jerky movements? I remember learning that people with physical and mental disabilities were among the first to be rounded up and murdered during the Holocaust; obviously, I would've been among them. However, while I wouldn't have been outright killed in the states, I most certainly wouldn't have been able to accomplish what I done.
I owe it all to those who came and fought before me. The fight for truly equal rights for differently abled people is still ongoing. This book has opened my eyes to subfield of American History that I honestly didn't know existed. One that is extremely real for me, one that I live with every second of my life. Without a doubt, this book will be in my top reads for 2023.
The only reason it isn't a 5 star rating is because I wish that it went more in depth. Covering several hundred years of history in less than 200 pages is very difficult to do.
I required years of various forms of therapy and accommodations to get to where I am today. What if I didn't have access to them? What if my job refused to hire me? What if my teachers and professors hadn't looked passed the limp, the occasional stutter, or the jerky movements? I remember learning that people with physical and mental disabilities were among the first to be rounded up and murdered during the Holocaust; obviously, I would've been among them. However, while I wouldn't have been outright killed in the states, I most certainly wouldn't have been able to accomplish what I done.
I owe it all to those who came and fought before me. The fight for truly equal rights for differently abled people is still ongoing. This book has opened my eyes to subfield of American History that I honestly didn't know existed. One that is extremely real for me, one that I live with every second of my life. Without a doubt, this book will be in my top reads for 2023.
The only reason it isn't a 5 star rating is because I wish that it went more in depth. Covering several hundred years of history in less than 200 pages is very difficult to do.
voidvoidvoid's review against another edition
4.0
A good starting point for digging deeper into disability history; while definitely too short to be comprehensive it succeeded in its goal of linking how disability has formed ideas of citizenship in the US.