ABSTRACT

Western ideology currently holds that the care for people with disabilities is best provided in a home environment. Government since the 1970s have been intent on moving away from institutional forms of care to care within, and arguably by, the community (Coppock and Hopton, 2000). The tipping of the balance towards increased caregiver responsibilities and the rolling back of the state in many neoliberal countries over the last decade has led to a backlash from carer groups against policy makers who neglect the extensive work carried out by families, and an upsurge in interest from social commentators and feminist scholars(discussed below).