Politics of Empowerment: Disability Rights and the Cycle of American Policy Reform

In Politics of Empowerment, David Pettinicchio explores the complex history of U.S. disability policy, challenging the notion of steady progress driven mainly by public demand. The book examines the roles of government insiders and grassroots advocacy in shaping disability rights, highlighting a persistent cycle of advances and setbacks within American politics. Drawing on extensive archival research, it offers a nuanced analysis of how institutional politics and activism have interacted over decades.