SJC Exchange Library

This report urges a radical shift in how U.S. jails understand and respond to disability. Moving beyond basic ADA compliance and the medical model, Expecting Difference calls for a disability strategy rooted in the social model, disability justice, and the lived experiences of disabled people—especially those who are incarcerated. The report highlights the unmet needs of under-addressed groups (such as youth, neurodivergent people, and individuals needing personal care), identifies systemic access barriers in jails, and proposes innovative, community-based solutions for decarceration. A must-read for anyone seeking inclusive, equity-driven criminal justice reform.