PREFACE Eric

In this book Dr. Miho Iwakuma, who has the perspective of a person who navigates the world from a wheelchair, introduces the reader to the world of people with disabilities (PWDs) generally and more specifically in Japan. The populations of the countries with the wealthiest economies are aging. This is an unprecedented event in human history, certainly in modern history. Countries such as Germany, Italy. Norway. and Japan are facing a major shift in their demographics. With aging comes disability. This book by Iwakuma examines the social and communicative ramifications of the onset of disability. Dr. Iwakuma approaches the community of persons with disabilities as having many common experiences and challenges, and applies the idea of subculture. From this perspective we can see how newly disabled people individually and as a group struggle to be successful within the larger "host" culture. But the word "host" implies that the other is a mere visitor, not someone who permanently belongs. lwakuma notes that disability is often a permanent condition and one that visits virtually everyone if they live long enough. The act of accommodation implies empathy and the realization that we are all together in our communities, not split as so many scholars presume between mainstream normal people and marginal abnormal people. Identity is given through difference (Heidegger, 1957 Ger./1969 Eng.; Saussure, 1916 Fr./1977 Eng.). Identity is a co-constituted phenomenon (Kramer, 1993). Identity is thus, at least in part, a social construct (Berger & Luckmann, 1967; Garfinkel, 1964/t 972; Goffman, 1959; Schutz, t 953; Schutz & Luckmann, 1959 Ger./1973 Eng.). This shifting aspect of identity increases as diversity increases. The self is a product of systemic social