Introduction

In this chapter I explore from a lifecourse perspective how important leading activists of the modern Swedish disability movement regard their ageing and later life. More specifically, I focus on how a special group of disabled people experience ageing and later life in light of the modern history of disability and disability politics in which they have actively participated (see also Campbell and Oliver, 1996; Hugemark and Roman, 2007; Symeonidou, 2009). I discuss the importance of identity as a disabled person and how this is socially shaped and described.

Aim and questions

The aim of this chapter is to examine perspectives and experiences of ageing in relation to what can be seen as a so-called normal lifecourse (Priestley, 2003). The concept of a political lifecourse perspective is introduced in order to create an understanding of the links between experiences of disability, activism and a normal lifecourse (Andrews, 2007). The main questions are: how have the political and personal standpoints that disabled people have taken throughout their lives shaped their views of ageing and later life? How does a disability identity have an impact on these views? How does this group reflect on discrimination and ageism? Finally, do they think that ageing and later life will be different for them and for other disabled people compared to non-disabled people?

The historical context is that disability policy progressed and identity politics were developed by the disability rights movement in Western countries’ welfare states from the 1950s onwards. The point of departure for this chapter is the fact that, now, for the first time in history, a generation of people who have lived a long life with disability can look back on an important era of disability policy development in which they have participated and have been pioneers themselves.

This chapter builds on biographical interviews with eight disabled people who have lived for many years with disability. What is special about this group is that they are all devoted, well-known and successful disability activists.