Youth, Disability, and Resistance Producing Change through Activism and Social Movements

1. Introduction: Disability Youth Activism and Disabled People's Social Movements

2. Importance: Do Young Disabled People Care about Disability Activism?

3. Restrictions: What Restricts Young Disabled People's Participation in Activism and Social Movements?

4. Inclusion: What Is Required to Progress Youth Participation within Disabled People's Movements?

5. Resistance: How Do Young Disabled Activists Resist Oppressive Policies and Practices? 

6. Future: Concluding Thoughts

Biography

Miro Griffiths is an Associate Professor of Social Policy and Disability Studies at the University of Leeds, UK

“Disabled youth had an important role in changing the disability paradigm from that of patients to citizens. Functionality was not accepted as a determinant of rights. People chained themselves to poles, laid in front of buses and occupied government buildings for awareness of disability rights. Miro Griffiths’ dive into this area is of greatest relevance for the history of disability and power but also for future change.”

-Jamie Bolling, President, Independent Living Institute Sweden.

 

“This book is a great addition to the toolbox of disability rights activists, at a time when we need activism and resistance more than ever. Right now, when we are seeing the erosion of human rights and the international law order, it is easy to get discouraged, to lose hope and motivation to fight. It can all seem futile. However, history shows us that resistance is crucial, not only to preserve what was already won, but to move towards a better, more inclusive and more peaceful world. Young disabled people are the future of rights activism and understanding what motivates them and what strategies they might want to use is an important contribution to disability studies, and a resource for organisations such as the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL. With some of the research taking place during ENIL’s 2022 Freedom Drive, it was great to see the involvement of young disabled people in the making of the book. I look forward to seeing how they continue to engage with it and hopefully making sure the fight for human rights and Independent Living stays strong.”

-Ines Bulić Cojocariu, Director, European Network on Independent Living.

 

“This book is a clarion call for disability youth activism, social movement studies, resistance practices, and the kind of vital social disruption our times demand. Urgent yet grounded, it centres young disabled activists as theorists of change, challenging complacency and reimagining power. It reminds us that movements grow through courage, collective learning, and the refusal to accept exclusion as inevitable.”

-Baroness Jane Campbell, UK House of Lords and former Commissioner of the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission.

 

“This penetrating analysis of disabled youth activism reaffirms Griffiths as a distinct, exciting and influential disability studies intellectual.  Written in a beautifully accessible style, the text captures biographical, empirical and theoretical accounts that celebrate the disruptive potential of the activism of disabled young people. This book acts as a timely reminder: that disabled people must be at the centre of a movement resisting authoritative expressions of normality.”

-Prof Dan Goodley, Co-Director of iHuman, University of Sheffield.

 

“This book offers a powerful and timely account of disabled young people’s activism, showing with clarity about how resistance is forged in everyday life as well as collective struggle. Combining conceptual sophistication with rich empirical work, it makes an important contribution to disability studies, youth studies, and social movement scholarship. It is an insightful, humane, and politically urgent book that deserves wide readership across disciplines and beyond the academy.”

-Prof Peter Millward, Professor of Contemporary Sociology, Liverpool John Moores University.

 

“Miro Griffiths has written a fascinating and timely reflection on youth disability activism across Europe. This book brings together the will and passion for social change of the independent living activist with the reflexivity and rigour of the critical social researcher to create a powerful synthesis at the forefront of contemporary disability studies and advocacy.”

-Dr Teodor Mladenov, Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee.