Accessible, engaging, and filled with contributions by the country's most celebrated disability experts, this fascinating volume skillfully captures how intellectual disability has been understood from prehistoric times to present. Readers will discover how different societies have responded to people with disability throughout history, how life has changed for people with intellectual disability and their families over the centuries, and how key historical figures and events sparked social change and shaped our modern understanding of intellectual disability. Enhanced with remarkable images and illustrations, including exclusive photos from the editor's private collection of cultural artifacts, this informal history is a must-read for anyone devoted to improving the lives of people with intellectual disability.
Top Disability Experts Explore:

Early ideas about the causes of intellectual disability
Evolution of the concept of intellectual disability
The role of religion in the ancient world's understanding of disability
Changing approaches to education and intervention
The rise and fall of the institution system
Depictions of intellectual disability in film, literature, and art
State-sanctioned sterilization programs in the twentieth century
The self-advocacy movement
The emergence and impact of parent associations, support groups, and training programs
How and why terminology changed throughout the years
and more