Disability Studies Bookshelf

Looking for books about Disability Studies but not sure how to start? Disability Studies covers a large and diverse range of topics, so it can be challenging to get started with finding books. Evolving perspectives and attitudes toward disabilities – along with changes in the terminology used to describe those disabilities – can make it difficult to choose the best keywords and subject terms for effective searching.

Skip the hassle of searching and browse our librarian-selected list of recommended books available through the UGA Libraries.

Click any of the categories to explore the curated list of books on that topic.

Browse the lists of selected books to explore and discover books on nearly 50 different topics including:

• Disabilities such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and others
• Perspectives on disabilities from subject disciplines such as Art, History, Law, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, and more
• The intersection of disabilities with gender, race, aging, and other identities
• Important concepts in Disability Studies such as ableism, discrimination, identity, inclusion, and transition
• Additional topics such as Assistive Technology, Sign Languages, Rehabilitation, Disabilities in Higher Education, and more

The recommended books listed in this guide are not all of the Disability Studies books and resources available through the UGA Libraries, so if you’d like to look for additional resources, you can: 

• See also our list of Background Sources for helpful encyclopedias, handbooks, and other reference sources in Disability Studies.
• For other types of resources including articles, journals, statistics, primary sources, and more, please visit our Disability Studies Research Guide.
• Search our GIL@UGA library catalog

Formats

Books in this guide are available online as ebooks, in print format at the UGA Libraries, or in both formats.

• In order to access ebooks from off-campus, you will be prompted to sign in with your UGA MyID.
• For print books, click the title to see where the book is located (building, floor, and call number) and its current status (available, checked out, etc.)

Requesting books

• You can request for a book to be pulled from the shelf and held for you to pickup – or be delivered to a different library building on campus for pickup – by clicking the book title, and then on the next page, clicking the “Sign In / Request Items” button.
• If UGA’s copy of a particular book is already checked out, in some cases you may see additional copies of the book available at other libraries in the statewide University System of Georgia that you can borrow through GIL Express. Click the “Sign In / Request Items” button and then click on a different USG library to have their copy sent to UGA for you to borrow.
• If you’d like to request that the UGA Libraries purchase a Disability Studies book that we don’t currently have, you can submit a suggestion using our Request a Purchase form.

Special ebook access and digitization services for patrons with disabilities

Eligible UGA users with certified print disabilities can:

• Receive special access to in-copyright ebooks through HathiTrust Digital Library. 
• Request that library materials in print format such as book chapters and journal articles be scanned and converted to accessible digital formats.

If you have a print disability and would like to inquire about these services, contact Eric Griffith, Disabilities Services Coordinator for UGA Libraries, at ecg@uga.edu