Disability, Mothers, and Organization

"How do ordinary people become activists? How do women marginalized as volunteers become political leaders? How did middle-class Canadian mothers change the professional practices and public laws impacting their disabled children? Skillfully combining methods and insights from women’s studies and disability studies to deepen our understanding of women’s and disabled people’s history, Melanie Panitch’s instructive monograph tells us how."

Paul K. Longmore
Professor, Department of History
San Francisco State University

"In the best traditions of feminist scholarship, Melanie Panitch uncovers the inspiring history of mothers in the battle for equality for people with disabilities. Disability, Mothers and Organization: Accidental Activists shows the reader in an accessible and enjoyable narrative the important role that mothers of disabled children played in the fight for equality facing not only the discrimination and stereotyping of their children but also of themselves as women. Bravo for this important new contribution to women’s and disability studies."

Judy Rebick

CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy

Ryerson University

"Panitch captures the spirit behind two movements that changed the lives ofcountless people with intellectual disabilities in Canada - deinstitutionalization and human rights -- and shows how mothers made the difference. Her book illustrates how three women bucked traditional expectations for being 'good mothers' and became national leaders and heroes. Poignant, instructive and inspirational."

Diane Richler, CM

President

Inclusion International