This volume investigates the evolution of disability as a social, cultural, and political category across diverse historical contexts. Editors Catherine J. Kudlick, Kim E. Nielsen, and Michael A. Rembis curate a collection of essays from leading scholars to examine how disability has been defined, experienced, and regulated throughout human history. The work argues that disability is not merely a medical condition but a dynamic identity shaped by power structures, economic systems, and shifting societal norms.

Experts identify this handbook as a foundational reference text for the field of disability history, noting its comprehensive scope and rigorous scholarly approach. Readers frequently highlight the density of the prose and the breadth of the contributors as indicators of its status as a primary resource for researchers and students alike.