This is the only text to examine the experience of disability in relation to theories of human growth and development. It provides a foundational and comprehensive examination of disability that encompasses the intellectual, psychiatric, physical, and social arenas. The second edition is updated to underscore its versatility as an introductory text about the developmental tasks of people with disabilities for all the helping professions. Reorganized to illuminate the book's interdisciplinary focus, it includes new demographics, new case studies and first-person accounts, discussions on cultural aspects of disabilities, family concerns, and more.

The text delivers practice guidelines for each of the conventional life stages and describes the developmental tasks of individuals with disabilities (IWDs) and the difficulties they may have in completing them. It emphasizes the positive trend in the perception of individuals with disabilities as normal and underscores the fact that IWDs have the same motivations, emotions, and goals as those without disabilities. Learning activities, suggestions for writing exercises, and websites for further study reinforce learning, as do graphs, charts, and photos to illustrate trends and demographics.

New to the Second Edition:

• Introductory chapter on understanding disability
• Demographic updates
• New case studies and first-person accounts
• Expanded discussions about cultural issues, and intersectionality, trauma related to disability, financial abuse, and psychiatric disabilities
• New and expanded learning activities to help students apply concepts
• Updated Instructor's Manual with sample syllabus, suggested guest speakers, Test Bank, and PowerPoints

Key Features:

• Examines the conventional stages of human growth and development from the perspective of individuals with disabilities
• Integrates disability concepts with developmental theories and stages of the lifespan
• Addresses common ethical issues to illuminate the real-world implications faced by individuals with disabilities and their families
• Includes learning activities, suggestions for writing exercises, and websites for further study