Centre members produce a wide range of books, research papers and scholarly articles. The work listed here is by no means exhaustive but gives a flavour of the work we have published in recent years.
On this page you will find details of books published by the Disability Press, followed by lists key academic publications (with links to the source where available). Please note that research project reports and working papers are usually available on our research project pages and that we also host several hundred open access documents in our Disability Archive.
The Disability Press is an independent publishing house which aims to provide an alternative outlet for work in the field of disability studies. Its establishment is intended as a testament to the growing recognition of 'disability' as an equal opportunities and human rights issue within the social sciences. The Disability Press aims to carry forward the work of all those countless disabled individuals and their allies who have, over the years, struggled to put this particular issue on to the political agenda. The Disability Press is an independent non-profit making venture and any surplus income generated from sales will be used to support future publications.
Our book series currently includes the following titles:
Currently available titles can be purchased (using credit or debit card) from our online store.
Some earlier titles are now out of print. However, it is our policy to make out of print material freely available online via our Disability Archive.
The following publication lists are indicative and draw primarily on refereed journal papers and research monographs.
Oliver, M. and Barnes, C. (2012) The New Politics of Disablement, Tavistock: Palgrave.
Barnes, C. (2011) Understanding Disability and the Importance of Design for All. Journal of Accessibility and Design for All, 1(1), 54-79.
Shah, S. and Priestley, M. (2011) Disability and Social Change: private lives and public policies, Bristol: Policy Press
Schiek, D. and Lawson, A. (2011) European Union Non-Discrimination Law and Intersectionality: investigating the triangle of racial, gender and disability discrimination, Ashgate
Allsop, M., Gallagher, J., Holt, R., Bhakta, B. and Wilkie R. (2011) Involving children in the development of assistive technology devices, Disability Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology, 6(2): 148-156
Hemingway, L. (2011) Disabled People and Housing: Choices, Opportunities and Barriers, Bristol, Policy Press
Murray, S. (2011) Autism, London, Routledge
Barnes, C. and Sheldon A. (2010) Disability, Politics and Poverty in a majority World Context, Disability and Society, 25 (7) 771 –782.
Oliver, M., and Barnes, C. (2010). Disability Studies: Disabled people and the struggle for inclusion. British Journal of the Sociology of Education, 31(5), 547-560.
Barnes, C. (2010) A Brief History of Discrimination and Disabled People, in L.J. Davis, (ed.), The Disability Studies Reader: Third Edition. London: Routledge, pp. 20-32.
Barnes, C., Mercer, G., and Shakespeare, T. (2010) The Social Model of Disability. In A. Giddens, & P. W. Sutton (Eds.), Sociology: Introductory Readings (3rd ed., pp. 161-167). Cambridge: Polity.
Priestley, M., Waddington, L. and Bessozi, C. (2010) New priorities for disability research in Europe:Towards a user-led agenda, ALTER, Revue européenne de recherche sur le handicap, 4(4):
Priestley, M., Waddington, L. and Bessozi, C. (2010) Towards an agenda for disability research in Europe: learning from disabled people's organisations, Disability & Society, 25(6): 731-746
Edwards, J. and Boxal, K. (2010) Adults with cystic fibrosis and barriers to employment, Disability & Society, 25(4): 441-453
Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2010) Exploring Disability: a sociological introduction [Second Edition], Cambridge, Polity
Barnes C. (2010) Disability in a Majority World Context: a materialist account, International Journal of Disability Studies, 4(1-2): 7-30 (author amnuscript archive)
Allsop, M., Holt, R., Levesley, M., Bhakta, B. (2010) The engagement of children with disabilities in health-related technology design processes: identifying methodology, Disability and Rehabilitation - Assistive Technology, 5(1): 1-13
Beckett, A., Ellison, N., Barrett, S. and Shah, S. (2010) Away with the Fairies? Disability within primary-age children's literature, Disability and Society, 25 (3): 373-386.
Swanwick, R. (2010) Policy and practice in sign bilingual education: development, challenges and directions, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 13(2): 147-158
Oliver, M., and Barnes, C. (2009) Disabling or Enabling Welfare: What Next for Disabled People. In M. Oliver (Ed.), Understanding Disability (Second ed., pp. 119-133). Tavistock: Palgrave.
Barnes, C. (2009) Un Chiste Malo: mrehabilitar a las personas con decapacidad en una sociedad que discapacita. In P. Brogna (Ed.), 2009: Visiones y Revisiones de la Discapicidad (pp. 101-122). Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica.
Priestley, M., Riddell, S., Jolly, D., Pearson, C., Williams, V., Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2009) Cultures of welfare at the frontline: implementing direct payments for disabled people in the UK, Policy & Politics (fast track online)
Prideaux, S. and Roulstone, A. (2009) Good practice for providing disabled people with reasonable access: a comparative study of legislative provision, International Journal of Law in the Built Environment, 1(1): 59-81
Sheldon, A. (2009) Recession, radicalism and the road to recovery?, Disability & Society, 24(5): 667-671
Morrall, P. (2009) Sociology and Health: an introduction [second edition], London, Routledge
Valentine, G. and Skelton, T. (2009) An umbilical cord to the world: the role of the internet in D/deaf people’s information and communication practices, Information, Communication and Society, 12: 44-65.
Gyimah, E., Sugden, D. and Pearson, S. (2009) Inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools in Ghana: influence of teachers' and children's characteristics, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 13 (8): 787 -804.
Pearson, S (2009) Using Activity Theory to understand prospective teachers' attitudes to and construction of special educational needs and/or disabilities, Teaching and Teacher Education, 25: 559-568.
Prideaux S., Roulstone, A., Harris, J. and Barnes, C. (2009) Disabled People and Self Directed Support Schemes: Re-Conceptualising Work and Welfare in the 21st Century, Disability & Society, 24(5): 557-569
Shah, S. and Priestley, M. (2009) Home and away: the changing impact of educational policies on disabled children’s experiences of family and friendship, Research Papers in Education, 1470-1146 (published online)
Beckett, A.E. (2009) Challenging disabling attitudes, building an inclusive society: considering the role of education in encouraging non-disabled children to develop positive attitudes towards disabled people, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 30:3: 317-329
Roulstone, A. and Prideaux, S. (2008) More policies, greater inclusion? Exploring the contradictions of New Labour inclusive education policy, International Studies in Sociology of Education, 18(1): 15-29
Shah, S. (2008) Young Disabled People: Aspirations, Choices and Constraints, Ashgate
Lawson, A. (2008) Disability and Equality Law in Britain: The role of Reasonable Adjustment, Hart Publishing
Lawson, A. (2008) People with Psychosocial Impairments or Conditions, Reasonable Accommodation and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Law in Context, 26: 62-84.
Barnes, C. (2008) Generating Change: Disability Culture and Art. Behinderung und Dritte Welt - Journal for Disability and International Development, 19(1/2008):4-13
Hollomotz, A. and The Speakup Committee (2008) ‘May we please have sex tonight?’ – people with learning difficulties pursuing privacy in residential group settings, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, (online access)
Murray, S. (2008) Representing Autism: culture, narrative, fascination, Liverpool University Press
Watson, L . and Swanwick, R. (2008) Parents' and Teachers' Views on Deaf Children's Literacy at Home: Do they agree?, Deafness and Education International, 10 (1): 22-39.
Priestley, M. (2007) In search of European disability policy: Between national and global, ALTER, Revue européenne de recherche sur le handicap, 1(1): 61-74
Holt, R.J.; Weightman A.P.H.; Allsop, M.J.; Levesley, M.C.; Preston N.J.; Bhakta, B. Engaging Children in the Design of a Rehabilitative Game Interface, INCLUDE 2007 , 2007
Shah, S. (2007) Special or mainstream? The views of disabled students, Research Papers in Education, 22(4): 425-442
Barnes, C. (2007) Disability Activism and the Struggle for Change: Disability, policy and politics in the UK, Education Citizenship and Social Justice, 2(3): 203-221
Hollomotz, A. (2007) Beyond ‘Vulnerability’: An Ecological Model Approach to Conceptualizing Risk of Sexual Violence against People with Learning Difficulties, British Journal of Social Work, (online access)
Sanders, T. (2007) The politics of sexual citizenship: commercial sex and disability, Disability & Society, 22(5): 439-455
Barnes, C. (2007) Disability Activism and the Price of Success: a British Experience, Intersticios: Revista Sociologica de Pensamiento Critico, 1(2): 15-29
Barnes, C. (2007) Disability Studies: What's the Point?, Intersticios: Revista Sociologica de Pensamiento Critico, 1(1):
Barnes, C. (2007) Disability, higher education and the inclusive society, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 28(1): 135-145
Lawson, A. (2007) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: New Era or False Dawn? Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, 34(2): 101-158
Swanwick, R. and Watson, L. (2007) Parents sharing books with young deaf children in spoken English and in BSL: The common and diverse features of different language settings, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 12(3): 385 - 405.
Beckett, A. (2006) Understanding Social Movements: theorising the disability movement in conditions of late modernity, The Sociological Review, 54(4): 734-752
Priestley, M., Jolly, D., Pearson, C., Riddell, S., Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2006/7) Direct payments and disabled people in the UK: supply, demand and devolution, British Journal of Social Work, 37(7): 1189-1204
Bryant, L., Green, J. and Hewison, J. (2006) Understandings of Down’s syndrome: a Q methodological investigation, Social Science and Medicine, 63: 1188-1200
Beckett, A. (2006) Citizenship and Vulnerability: disability and issues of social and political engagement, Palgrave Macmillan
Murray, S.F. (2006) Autism and the Contemporary Sentimental: Fiction and the Narrative Fascination of the Present, Literature and Medicine, 25(1), 24-45
Barker, C. (2006) From Narrative Prosthesis to Disability Counternarrative: Reading the Politics of Difference in Potiki and the bone people, Journal of New Zealand Literature, 24(1): 130-47
Isherwood, T. (2006) A qualitative analysis of the ‘management of schizophrenia’ within a medium secure service for men with learning disabilities. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 13: 148-156.
Priestley, M. and Hemingway, L. (2006) Disabled People and Disaster Recovery: a tale of two cities? Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 5(3/4): 23-42
Hemingway, L. and Priestley, M. (2006) Natural hazards, human vulnerability and disabling societies: a disaster for disabled people? Review of Disability Studies, 2(3): 57-67
Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2005) Disability, Work and Welfare: challenging the social exclusion of disabled people, Work Employment and Society, 19(3): 527- 545.
Barnes, C.' (2005) Independent Living, Politics and Policy in the United Kingdom: A Social Model Account', Review of Disability Studies, 1(4): 5-13
Roulstone, A. and Barnes, C. (2005) Working Futures: Disabled People, Policy and Social Inclusion, Bristol, Policy Press
Lawson, A. (2005) The EU Rights Based Approach to Disability: Strategies for Shaping an Inclusive Society, International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, 6: 269-287
Bryant, L., Hewison, J and Green, J. (2005). Attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis and termination in women who have a sibling with Down’s syndrome,Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 23: 179-196.
Chamberlain M.; Kent, R. (2005) The needs of young people with disabilities in transition from paediatric to adult services. Europa Medicophysica, 41, pp.111-23
Hussain, Y. (2005) South Asian disabled women: negotiating identities. The Sociological Review, 53(3): 522-538
Lawson, A. and Gooding, C. (eds) (2005) Disability Rights in Europe: From Theory to Practice, Oxford, Hart Publishing.
Pearson, S. (2005) 'SEN - a politically correct phrase to replace terms such as disabled?' A study of the views of students entering a secondary PGCE course, Support for Learning, 20(1), 17-21.
Swanwick, R. and Watson, L. (2005) Literacy in the homes of young deaf children: common and distinct features of spoken language and sign bilingual environments, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 5(1): 53 - 78
Wilde, A. (2004) Disabling masculinity: the isolation of a captive audience, Disability & Society, 19(4): 355-370
Karafistan, R. (2004) Being a Shyster: Re-visioning the Actor with Learning Disabilities. New Theatre Quarterly, XX: 265-279.
Swanwick, R., Oddy, A. and Roper, T. (2004) Mathematics and Deaf Pupils: An exploration of barriers to success, Deafness and Education International, 7(1), 1- 22
Harrison, M.L. (2004) Defining housing quality and environment: disability, standards and social factors. Housing Studies, 19(5): 691-708.
Morrall P. and Hazelton M. (eds) (2004) Mental Health: Global Policies and Human Rights. London: Whurr
Barnes, C. (2003) Rehabilitation for Disabled People: A Sick Joke?, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 5(1): 7-24.
Jolly, D. (2003) The Government of Disability: economics and power in welfare and work, Disability & Society, 18(4): 509-522
Blair, A. and Lawson, A. (2003) Disability Discrimination Reforms in Education: Could do Better?, Child and Family Law Quarterly, 15: 41-55
Mir, G. and Tovey, P. (2003) Asian Carers' Experiences of Medical and Social Care: The Case of Cerebral Palsy, British Journal of Social Work, 33, 465-479
Priestley, M., Rabiee, P. and Harris, J. (2003) Young Disabled People and the 'New Arrangements' for Leaving Care in England and Wales, Children and Youth Services Review, 25(11): 863-890
Priestley, M. (2003) Disability: a life course approach, Polity
Valentine, G. (2003) In pursuit of social justice: ethics and emotions in geographies of health and disability. Progress in Human Geography, 27(3): 375-380
Priestley, M. (2003) The Development of Disability Studies in England: lessons from Leeds, Handicap - revue de sciences humaines et sociales, 96: 89-101
Barnes, C. and Mercer, G. (2003) Disability (key concepts), Polity
Hussain, Y. (2003) Transitions into Adulthood: Disability, Ethnicity and Gender among British South Asians. Disability Studies Quarterly, 23(2): 100-112
Barnes, C. (2003) What a Difference a Decade Makes: Reflections on Doing Emancipatory Disability Research, Disability & Society, 18(1): 3-17
Priestley, M. and Rabiee, P. (2002) Hopes and fears: stakeholder views on the transfer of special school resources towards inclusion, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 6(4): 371-390
Kerr, E.A. and Shakespeare T. (2002) Genetic politics: from eugenics to genome, New Clarion Press
Matthews, B. (2002) The Disability Discrimination Act & developments in accessible public transport in the U.K., World Transport Policy & Practice, 8(2): 42-49
Morrall P. and Muir-Cochrane E. (2002) Naked Social Control: Seclusion and Psychiatric Nursing in Post-Liberal Society. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 1 (2), 1-12
Barnes, C., Oliver, M. and Barton, L. (eds) 2002) Disability Studies Today, Polity Press
Priestley, M. and Rabiee, P. (2002) Same difference?: older peoples organisations and disability issues, Disability & Society, 17(6):
Baylies, C.L. (2002) Disability and the notion of human development: questions of rights and capabilities. Disability and Society, 17(7): 725-740
Priestley, M. (2002) Whose Voices? Representing the claims of older and disabled people, Policy and Politics, 30(3): 361-372
Mir, G. and Nocon, A. (2002) Partnerships, Advocacy and Independence: Service Principles and the Empowerment of Minority Ethnic People, Journal of Learning Disabilities, 6(1): 153-162
Barnes, C. (2002) Emancipatory Disability Research: Project or Process?, Journal of Research on Special Educational Needs, 1(2)
Hussain Y., Atkin, K., Ahmad W. (2002) South Asian Disabled Young People and Their Families. Bristol: Policy Press.
Whittle, R. (2002) The Framework Directive for equal treatment in employment and occupation: an analysis from a disability rights perspective. European Law Review, 27(3): 303-326
Barnes, C. (2002) Disability, Policy and Politics, Policy and Politics, 35(3)
Goodley, D. and Moore, M. (2001) Arts against Disablement: the performing arts of people with learning difficulties Plymouth: British Institute of Learning Disabilities.
Priestley, M. (ed.) (2001) Disability and the Life Course: global perspectives, Cambridge University Press
Goodley, D. (2001) Learning Difficulties, the social model of disability and impairment: challenging epistemologies. Disability & Society, 16(2): 207-231.
Davis, C. and Harrison, M. (2001) Housing social policy and difference: disability, ethnicity, gender and housing. The Policy Press, Bristol
Chappell, A., Goodley, D and Lawthom, R. (2001) Making Connections: the relevance of the social model of disability for people with learning difficulties, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 29(2): 45-50.
Goodley, D. and Rapley, M. (2001) How do you Understand Learning Difficulties? towards a social theory of impairment, Mental Retardation, 39(3): 229-232
Reeve, D. (2000) Oppression Within the Counselling Room Disability & Society, Vol. 15(4) pp. 669-682
Vernon, A. and Qureshi, H. (2000) Community care and independence: self-sufficiency or empowerment?, Critical Social Policy, 20(2): 255-276.
Morrall, P.A. (2000) Madness and Murder: Implications for the Psychiatric Disciplines. Whurr Publishing
Goodley, D. (2000) Self-advocacy in the Lives of People with Learning Difficulties: the politics of resilience, Buckingham, Open University Press.
Jolly, D. (2000) A Critical Evaluation of the Contradictions for Disabled Workers Arising from the Emergence of the Flexible Labour Market in Britain Disability & Society, Vol. 15(5): 795-810
Priestley, M. (2000) Adults Only: disability, social policy and the life course, Journal of Social Policy, Vol. 29(3): 421-439
Lawson, A. (2000) Selling, Letting and Managing Premises: new rights for disabled people?, Conveyancer and Property Lawyer, March/April 2000
Goodley, D. and Moore, M. (2000) Doing Disability Research: activist lives and the academy, Disability & Society, 15 (6): 861-882
Priestley, M., Corker, M. and Watson, N. (1999) Unfinished Business: disabled children and disability identity, Disability Studies Quarterly, 19(2): 87-98
Sheldon, A. (1999) Personal and Perplexing: feminist disability politics evaluated, Disability & Society, Vol. 14(5): 645-659
Barnes, C., Mercer, G. and Shakespeare, T. (1999) Exploring Disability: a sociological introduction, London, Polity Press (ISBN: 0745614787)
Priestley, M. (1999) Disability Politics and Community Care, London: Jessica Kingsley. (ISBN 01853026522)
Shakespeare, T (1998) Choices and Rights: eugenics, genetics and disability equality, Disability & Society, Vol. 13(5), pp 665-681
Morrall, P.A. (1998) Mental Health Nursing and Social Control. Whurr.
Priestley, M. (1998) Discourse and Resistance in Care Assessment: integrated living and community care, British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 28(5), pp. 659-673
Oliver, M. and Barnes, C. (1998) Disabled People and Social Policy: From Exclusion to Inclusion, Harlow, Longman (ISBN 0 582 25987 8)
Stone, E. (1998) The Snowdon Survey 1998, Leeds, Disability Research Unit/Trustees of the Snowdon Award Scheme (available from: The Snowdon Trust, 22 City Business Centre, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5BA.
Shakespeare, T. (ed.) (1998) The Disability Reader: social science perspectives, London, Cassell
Priestley, M. (1998) Childhood Disability and Disabled Childhoods: agendas for research, Childhood, Vol. 5(2), pp. 207-223
Priestley, M. (1998) Constructions and Creations: idealism, materialism and disability theory, Disability & Society, Vol. 13(1), pp. 75-94
Priestley, M. (1997) The origins of a legislative disability category in England: a speculative history, Disability Studies Quarterly, Spring 1997
Stone, E. (1996) A Law to Protect, a Law to Prevent: contextualising disability legislation in China, Disability & Society, vol. 11(4), pp. 469-483
Stone, E. and Priestley, M. (1996) Parasites, Pawns and Partners: disability research and the role of non-disabled researchers, British Journal of Sociology, 47(4): 699-716 (author manuscript version available online)
Shakespeare, T., Gillespie-Sells, K. and Davies, D. (1996) The sexual politics of disability: untold desires, London: Cassell
Beveridge, S. (1996). Experiences of an integration link: the perspectives of pupils with SLD and their mainstream peers. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24: 9-1
Priestley, M. (1995) Dropping 'E's: the missing link in quality assurance for disabled people, Critical Social Policy, Vol. 44, pp. 7-21
Shakespeare, T. (1995) Back to the Future? New genetics and disabled people, Critical Social Policy, Vol. 44, pp. 22-35
Priestley, M. (1995) Commonality and difference in the Movement: an 'Association of Blind Asians' in Leeds, Disability & Society, Vol. 10(2), pp. 157-169
Shakespeare (1994) Cultural Representations of Disabled People: Dustbins for Disavowal, Disability & Society, Vol. 9(3), pp. 283-299
Barnes, C. (ed.) (1993) Making Our Own Choices: Independent Living, Personal Assistance and Disabled People, Derby, British Council of Disabled People
Shakespeare, T. (1993) Disabled People's Self-organisation: a new social movement?, Disability & Society, Vol. 8(3), pp. 249-264
Barnes, C. (1992) Disabling Imagery: An Exploration of Media Portrayals of Disabled People, Derby, BCODP
Barnes, C. (1991) Disabled People in Britain and Discrimination: A Case for Anti-discrimination Legislation, London, Hurst & Co./BCODP
Barnes, C. (1990) Cabbage Syndrome: The Social Construction of Dependence, Lewes, Falmer