The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Disability

Roughly 61 million people with disabilities live in the United States, and there are many more millions of people with disabilities around the world. Not surprisingly, differences among and between people with disabilities are often as notable as differences between people with and without disabilities. And, while the lack of homogeneity among people with disabilities makes creating a valid taxonomy under this term difficult, if not impossible, there is commonality among and between people with disabilities that justifies an authoritative resource on positive psychology and disability. That is, they have experienced discrimination and marginalization as a function of their disability. This expanded and updated volume assembles chapters by leading scholars in the fields of disability and positive psychology to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the state of the combined field of positive psychology and disability. Chapters are organized into thematic sections, beginning with an introductory section providing information on overarching themes in positive psychology and disability. The second section focuses on specific positive psychological constructs that have relevance to disability, including optimism, hope, social well-being, resilience, and positive education. The following section examines systems that take strengths-based approaches to treatment and intervention, while the fourth section looks at the application of positive psychological principles in specific disciplines such as rehabilitation sciences and disability studies. The final section focuses on topics that merit consideration in positive psychology and disability such as disability ethics, adaptation, and toxic positivity. Disability has always been associated with "differentness" and, consequently, people with disabilities have, throughout time, been treated as such. By examining disability from a strengths-based perspective, this volume provides a catalyst to accelerate the application of positive psychology with regard to how disability is understood.

Erin E. Andrews, PsyD, ABPP, is an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Chief of Psychology for the Veterans Health Administration VISN 17 Mental Health Clinical Resource Hub. Kara B. Ayers, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati and the Associate Director of the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence. Dana S. Dunn, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Assessment at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. Michael L. Wehmeyer, PhD, is the Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Senior Scientist and Director, Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas.