Disability Studies in India: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Editor
1 Situating Disability Studies: A Prolegomenon
	Epistemologies and Representations
	Policy and Institutionalization
	Academia–Activism Interface: Enabling Practices
	References
Epistomologies and Representations
2 Decolonising Disability Studies? Developing South Asia-Specific Approaches to Understanding Disability
	Introduction
	Origins of Disability Studies in Western Europe and the US
	Contexts of Engagement with Disability in South Asia
		Cultural Relativism and Its Shortcomings
		Countering Culture
		Constraining Disability Studies
		Institutional Restraints
	Developing Disability Studies in South Asia
		South Asian Cosmologies
		Countering Assumptions of Alterity
		Local Biologies and Political Movements
	Conclusion
	References
3 Disorder, Disability, Difference: (Re)presenting Autism in India
	Introduction: Contextualizing Autism in India
	Autism in India: An Historical Verview
	From ‘Disorder’ to ‘Disability’: Autism, Families and Advocacy
	Life with Autism: Some Experiences and Expressions of ‘Difference’
	Autism in Hindi Cinema
	Concluding Observations
	References
4 Disability and Public Spaces: Universal Design Approaches
	References
5 Ignorance of Disability: Some Epistemological Questions
	Disability in India
	Ignorance of Disability in Intellectual Scholarship
	Possibility of Disability Studies in India
	Conclusion
	References
6 Rethinking Monsters: Teaching Disability Studies Through History and the Humanities
	References
Policy and Institutionalisation
7 Service and Knowledge: The Emergence of Disability Studies Extension
	Introduction
	Genesis of the Existing Schemes
		Inequity in HE
		Strategies to Address Inequity in HE
		Disability Studies Centres (DSCs)
		Service and Knowledge Through Disability Studies Extension
	References
8 Disability Education at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi
	Relationship Between Disability Studies and Home Science Education in India
	How Interest in Disability Emerged at Lady Irwin College
		The Study of Disability at Higher Education Levels
	Interdisciplinary Nature of Work on Disability
	Disability as Social Construction
		Department of Human Development and Childhood Studies (HDCS)
		Department of Fabric and Apparel Science (FAS)
		Department of Resource Management and Design Application (RMDA)
		Department of Development Communication and Extension (DCE)
		Department of Education
	Conclusion
	References
9 Establishing a Disability Studies Centre in a Law University: Recounting the CDS NALSAR Experience
	Introduction: Need for Disability Studies
	Other Institutional Models to Undertake Disability Studies
		Multidisciplinary Centre in a University
		Disability Studies University
		Disability Studies Chairs
		Research Centres Within Single Discipline Universities
		Research Wings of Advocacy Centres
		Research and Documentation Wing in Equal Opportunity Centres
	Disability and the Discipline of the Law
	Centre for Disability Studies NALSAR
		Nurturing New Paradigm in Old Spaces
		Symbiotic Relationship Between Teaching and Research
	CDS NALSAR in Interaction with the Outside World
		Law Reform Efforts
		Dilemmas in Law Reform
		The Initial Country Report
	Learnings from the Process
	Conclusion
	References
10 Mapping Disability Studies Programmes in India: A Case of Hyderabad, Telangana
	Introduction
	Disability Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences
	Disability Rights Movements in India
	Disability Studies in India
		Status of Education Within India
	Setting Up of Disability Studies Centres in India: A Case Study of Hyderabad
		Engaging Disability Within Law
		Voicing the Understanding of Disability Through Literature
		Debates of Disability Through an Aesthetic Approach
		Disability Studies Within Social Sciences
	Conclusion
	References
11 Disability Social Work Education: Emerging Trajectory in India
	Contextual Background in the Disability Sector
	Influence of Emerging Perspectives and Models
	Disability Social Work
	Antecedents to the Masters’ Programme in Disability Studies and Action
	Trajectory of the Programme
	Principles of the Curriculum
	Initial Conceptualization of the Programme
	Emerging Trajectory
	References
Academia—Activism Interface: Enabling Practices
12 Resisting Dominant Construction of Blindness and the Genesis of Disability Studies in the University of Delhi: A Historical Context
	Resistance to Dominant Construction of Blindness
	Intellectual Movement Challenging the Myth of Blindness in the University of Delhi During 1980s and 1990s
	Emerging Disability Research and Evolution of Services for Disabled Students
	Conclusion
	References
13 Emancipating the Lives of Persons with Disabilities: Potential for Contributions by Disability Studies
	Introduction
	Capacity Building of Disabled Persons Organizations
	Participation of Stakeholders
	Realising UNCRPD: Learning from Inclusive Practices in Education and Employment
	Striving for Governance Reforms
	Conclusion
	References
14 The Right to Work for Persons with Disability in India: A Critical Disability Theory Perspective
	Introduction
	The Contents of the Right to Work
	The Right to Work in the Indian Context
	Disability Based Discrimination in Employment
	The PWD Act 1995
	The RPD Act 2016
	Just and Favourable Conditions of Work
	PWD Act
	RPD Act 2016
	State Wise Policies on Disability
	Critical Disability Theory
	Defining Disability: PWD and the RPD
	Conclusion
	References
15 ‘Encounters’ with Disabled People: Concerns from Field Work Settings
	Introduction
	Field Work Process in Social Work
	Stigma in Disability Context
	Conclusion
	References
16 Examining the Question of Deaf Education within Disability Studies in Delhi, India
	Introduction
	Status of Education for Children with Disabilities in India
		Educational Opportunities for deaf in India
	Barriers Within School
	How Disability Studies Can Look at the deaf Question?
		Proper Training of Teachers
		Use of Sign Language and Interpreters
		Classroom Setup
	Conclusion
	References
17 Examining the Experience, Barriers and Enabling Measures for Visually Impaired Visitors in Heritage Sites—A Study in the Indian Context to Enhance Accessibility and Inclusion
	Preamble
	Introduction
	Objectives of the Study
	Methodology
	Analysis
		Frequency of Visitation to Heritage Sites
		Satisfaction and Past Experiences of Visiting Heritage Sites
		Barriers to Access in Heritage Sites
		Preferred Measures/Enablers for Enhancing Experience and Accessibility in Heritage Sites
	Discussion
	Conclusions
	References