ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses how Internet-based media have become central to disability rights advocacy in recent years and provides useful pointers for further reading and research on this important yet under-studied topic. Using evidence from the United Kingdom, some of the key trends in contemporary digital disability advocacy are reviewed. These include: (1) the importance of disruptive catalyst events as incentives for technological innovation in disability rights advocacy; (2) the emergence of innovative grassroots networks and a new generation of tech-savvy self-advocates; and (3) the evolution of social media tactics, in particular the use of personal stories in digital disability advocacy campaigns.