SYMPOSIUM: People with disabilities in the labour market: Introduction

In order to understand the position of people with disabilities in the labour market it is first necessary to have some understanding about disability itself. This, however, is not a straight forward matter. The nature of disability is currently the subject of considerable debate in New Zealand and overseas (Johns, 1991). Traditional views which focus on an individual's medical condition, or see people with disabilities as victims of tragic circumstance in need of charitable aid, are being challenged by people with disabilities on a number of different grounds. New messages are being promoted about disability which attempt to re-define the position of people with disabilities in society.