Disability, employment, and the European Community

"Disability, Employment and the European Community" is comparative, contextual and European. It examines the concepts of disability, discrimination and positive action, and proposes a new model of disability, which emphasises the role that physical and attitudinal discrimination play in disadvantaging people with impairments. The hook also investigates the meaning of, and the need for positive action to promote the employment of people with disabilities, and justifies such intervention on principles of social justice. The author examines European Community policy initiatives on disability to date, and argues that the European Community has a valuable contribution to make in legislating to counter discrimination and promote greater equality of opportunity. This analysis is extended to novor the role of anti-discrimination legislation as a fool for addressing the discrimination perpetrated against disabled people in the European labour market. In a number of extensive chapters there is thorough treatment of future possible Community initiatives, covering ifoth the legal detail of competences and measures, and a critical analysis of the practical effect of initiatives taken and proposed, culminating with a call for a disability anti-discrimination directive. broughout the book frequent reference is made to comparative material - from both the United States, with the employment sections of the recently enacted Americans with Disabilities Act being examined detail, and from European countries. The book reveals how European community) policy makers have failed to demonstrate responsiveness to new ideas, and how older models of disability have prevailed and not adjusted to developments in parallel areas. This book will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in EC social policy as well as disability activists and policy makers in this area.Published version of EUI PhD thesis, 199