The Law: What's Disability Studies Got to Do with It or An Introduction to Disability Legal Studies

Abstract

In this article, the author invites legal scholars to consider how the field of Disability Studies relates to law, by creating a new field of Disability Legal Studies. While Disability Studies applies social, cultural, historical, philosophical, and humanities to the place of disability in society, Disability Legal Studies extends these perspectives to the particular role of disability within the legal system and legal studies. Although disability is central to many issues in law, it is generally absent from legal scholarship and classroom discussions. The author suggest ways in which law faculty may incorporate not only disability law-related cases, but also a Disability Legal Studies perspective into their scholarship and courses.

Keywords: disability law, legal studies

JEL Classification: K00