DISABILITY STUDIES NOT DISABILITY STUDIES

The growing interest in and increased visibility of the field of Disab ility Studies raises questions about the field's logical borders and v alid dimensions. This essay looks to guiding principles from the field itself as the basis for delineating a robust liberal arts-based inqui ry into disability, distinct from traditional interventionist models. The former is described in this essay as Disability Studies, the latte r endeavor, in substance the medicalized applied fields and special ed ucation, is identified here as the Not Disability Studies. The essay b egins with an overview of the problems found in the academic curriculu m with respect to the study of disability, and proceeds to describe ho w the proposed liberal arts-based Disability Studies can redress those problems.