Disabling Cities and Repositioning Social Work

The author explores the relationship between modern cities, people with disabilities and social work practices. Disability in cities links closely to the constitution of urban power and the composition of the urban landscape. The central arguments of this chapter are that all cities are disabling cities; that, for people with disabilities, city life is marked by much exclusion and some inclusion; that disability organizations constitute a social movement in pursuit of equality and rights of citizenship; and that the association between social work and disability has been a troubled one, although their relationship is shifting to more one of solidarity over core values, advocacy principles and reform goals. Social work is repositioning itself with a rights-based approach, informed by critical theory, challenging urban practices of ableism and marginalization.