Normalisation, the theoretical framework that underpins the movement of services for people with disabilities from long stay hospitals, has recently become the focus of much academic and professional attention. As the community care debate has moved into the public arena, it has attracted a certain amount of criticism, acknowledging the political and philosophical conflicts that surround it.

Normalisation: A Reader for the Nineties provides a much needed, informed appraisal of this controversial practice and combines various perspectives on the subject, including applied behavioural analysis, social policy and psychodynamic approaches. Thus it explores the discrepancies between the ideal and the reality and extends the debate by drawing comparisons, with other political and social ideologies.

Hilary Brown holds an honorary professorship in social care in the School of Health and Social Welfare at the Open University and works as a consultant at Salomons which is a faculty of Canterbury Christ Church College.,
Helen Smith is Director, Bromley Mental Health Services, Oxleas Trust.