Disability as a liberation struggle and a New Rights Movement in Australia (developing a research agenda)

Disabled people have a long history of struggle for liberation. This paper starts from a premise that while many theoretical advances have been made; within Australia, the policies and legislative acts, which guide practice, continue to be based on antiquated and traditional models. The need for change is highlighted with an examination of social movements as an avenue for achieving the required societal transformation. The Disability Rights Movement's international emergence and its minimal impact within the Australian context is explored. The emergence of new identity politics movements such as the feminist and anti racist movements, and their impact on liberation are considered. Finally, the role of research in providing a catalyst for social change through facilitating cross movement learning is proposed. To conclude, a specific research agenda, which incorporates all of these elements, is presented