ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on the dualistic lived experiences of activism and academia. It aims to argue that it is legislative changes such as: The Disability Discrimination Act; the signing and ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and the UK Equality Act, coupled with a drive for independent living that have made the most advances within society. The chapter provides an overview to determine what works, regarding what is seen and understood by activists and academics like myself, predominantly based within the United Kingdom. Legal or legislative changes and social action with regards to what academics and activists deem to work and understand about disability activism means each is offering differing opinions, to support or debate: topical issues, conceptual theories and terminology. Disability research now reflects political issues such as employment as opposed to just medical diagnosis or medicalised identities in keeping with real lived experiences and rights.
