Much attention is being focused on disability. It is central to the discussions of health care and social welfare policies taking place around the world. It is also of interest due to the” link between disability and poverty” (viii). This series recognizes that there is a wide range of disabilities that can be categorized in the areas of physical, mental, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. This series was not developed around specific disabilities, i.e., Parkinson’s Disease, but rather on the majority of topics that confront anyone interested in disability.

The Sage Reference Series on Disability: Key Issues and Future Directions consists of eight volumes. Each volume focuses on a key issue. The volumes are; Ethics, Law and Policy; Arts and Humanities; Employment and Work; Education; Disability Through the Life Course; Health and Medicine, Assistive Technology and Science; and Rehabilitation Interventions. Each volume is written by a different author from the various disciplines that contribute to this work. The authors are very thorough in explaining each issue with regards to disability. A nice feature of each volume is a chronology of critical events. This gives the reader a concise snapshot of the history of each particular key issue. Each volume is organized in a similar manner. Readers are given introduction and background information, current issues, critical events, data and statistics, as well as other important information.

The Sage Reference Series on Disability is written is a clear, concise manner. The format of this series makes the information very accessible. Another nice feature of this series is that each volume ends with selected print and electronic resources for further study. Each volume contains an extensive index.

This set is well suited for a wide audience. It targets undergraduate students as well as general readers using public libraries. However, “the content and depth of the series will also make it attractive to graduate students, researchers, and policy makers” (xi).

The Sage Reference Series on Disability is a unique source in that each volume focuses on one key issue. This made it difficult to find comparable sources. I did also look at Gary L. Albrecht’s Encyclopedia of Disability (SAGE, 2006). This five-volume set uses an A–Z format and devotes one volume to primary source documents. While this source covers a wide range of topics and issues surrounding disability, it does not go into the levels of depth that is found in The Sage Reference Series on Disability.

The Sage Reference Series on Disability: Key Issues and Future Directions provides more than an encyclopedia entry for a wide range of key issues surrounding disability. I would recommend this series to both undergraduate and public libraries.