"You're not a retard, you're just wise" Disability, social identity, and family networks

This study examines the social meaning of disability and the construction o f social identity in a family whose members, as well as numerous kin and fr iends, have been officially defined as handicapped, disabled, or mentally r etarded. As a point of departure for examining family members' perspectives , this article briefly reviews the literature on disability and stigma. In contrast to current theories, the family in this study has constructed a li fe world ill which disability is not stigmatizing or problematic for their identities. This article examines, in depth, how family members and their b roader social network construct the meaning of disability labels in nonstig matizing ways and define themselves and each other in terms of their person al characteristics and family relationships. The conclusion of this article considers some factors that seem to account for the family's ability to av oid the stigma and stained identities associated with mental retardation an d other disabilities.