Encyclopedia of Disability and Rehabilitation.

Arthur E. Dell Orto and Robert P. Marinelli Editors Macmillan Publishing 1995, 820 pp., $105 hardcover

The Encyclopedia of Disability and Rehabilitation is a major accomplishment in the field of rehabilitation. The scope of the book is enormous and ambitious. With more than 150 entries and more than 200 contributing authors, the preparation of the 820 page book was, as the editors stated, an "enormous task" (p. viii). The encyclopedia is a reference volume for "individuals with disabilities, their families, co-workers, caregivers and public": (p. vii). A basic tenet of the book is that a variety of people play an important part in the lives of persons with disabilities with the goal of providing the individual with a disability "the means to live as independent as possible" (p. vii).

The entries are organized alphabetically. Entries, approximately five pages in length, provide a succinct yet detailed summary of the topic. Each entry is followed by two types of cross-references as well as a list of pertinent resources and a bibliography. Most entries are followed by a "See also" which directs the reader to related entries. "See entry" listings suggest alternative titles where information can be found. For example, the title Mobility Impairments directs the reader to musculoskeletal disorders, prosthetics and orthotics, spinal cord injury, transportation accessibility, and wheelchairs. Most entries are followed by a list of resources, typically organizations available for additional information. Bibliographies furnish the reader with related references on the topic. A particularly useful feature of the encyclopedia is the "List of Resources" at the end of the book which is an alphabetical list of rehabilitation related organizations and foundations.

The range of topics covered is broad in scope. Topics covered include specific disabilities, the rehabilitation process, therapeutic interventions, assistive technology, consumer empowerment, the workplace, caregivers, psychosocial adjustment, and rehabilitation philosophy and concepts. While a critique of each entry would be difficult, a brief commentary on a sample of entries provides a sense of the variety of topics covered.

ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS This entry provides a review of key concepts, history, codes and standards, professional roles, and considerations for the future. Key concepts starts with a basic understanding of the emergence of barrier free design in the early 1960's to the current idea of universal design. A short history of the accessibility movement provides a context for understanding accessibility in the 1990's. Particularly useful for practitioners is a discussion of the variety of individuals, both professionals and consumers, that are involved in the "creation of accessible communities" (p. 73).

CAREGIVING While caregiving by one family member to another for an individual with a chronic illness or disability is not something new, recent demographic, economic and social changes are likely to move caregiving to the forefront of public policy considerations. This perspective, as well as a discussion of the psychological impact on caregivers, focuses caregiving not only as a counseling issue but also as a broader societal concern. Importantly, both the costs and benefits of caregiving to the caregiver are discussed.

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME This entry provides the reader with essential information on a syndrome which has received increased interest from the medical community since the late 1980%. An overview of diagnostic features, possible causes, prevalence, and treatment act as an excellent starting point for professionals outside of the medical field confronted with consumers with chronic fatigue syndrome. An excellent resource list and bibliography direct the interested reader to additional sources of information.

CONSUMERS This entry details the social and political history of the involvement of individuals with disabilities in the United States starting with the Civil War. The weaving of social and political events in American society with disability specific milestones assists in understanding the authors assertion that services for persons with disabilities have been shaped by political and socioeconomic pressures. The consumer entry concludes with inciteful comments on the future of the consumer movement. Particularly interesting were the comments concerning the impact of increased consumer control on the state-federal system in terms of the utilization of professional expertise.

HOMELESSNESS This entry focuses on disability as both a cause and consequence of homelessness. The reader is provided with an excellent review of the literature with an extensive bibliography at the end. A particularly eyeopening statement was the conclusion that while homelessness reached crisis proportions during the 1980's, "there is little empirical evidence that deinstitutionalization is a significant cause of homelessness ..." (p.373). In fact, evidence suggests that homelessness is more likely to be the cause of mental illness rather than the result.

RURAL REHABILITATION The author points out that rural Americans exhibit a greater proportion of chronic disability than individuals living in urban environments, yet have fewer resources available to assist them. This statement of the inequities encountered by rural persons with disabilities provides the context for an excellent discussion of the problems and proposed solutions for decreasing these inequities. One approach for increasing employment rates for persons with disabilities focuses on using vocational rehabilitation resources for investing in new and existing businesses that would employ rehabilitation clients while contributing to the local economy. This community development approach appears to hold promise for rural rehabilitation.

The Encyclopedia of Disability and Rehabilitation accomplishes its goal of providing relevant information on a wide range of disability and rehabilitation related topics. While my reaction to reading an encyclopedic type volume is typically less than enthusiastic, I found this book to be not only highly informative but also absorbing. The Encyclopedia would be useful for the practitioner, educator and researcher. The volume could be used as a text for both undergraduate and graduate survey courses in rehabilitation programs. Finally, one of the strengths of the book is its focus on current and relevant thoughts in the field. It is hoped that updated versions would continue to keep the content current.

Daniel C. Lustig, Ph.D.
Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education
Auburn University