Models of Disability

A brief introduction to viewing disability

There are a number of models that can be used to view and discuss disability, the most common being the ‘medical model’ and the ‘social model’. The ODI uses, and encourages others to use, the social model. This page provides a brief definition of each. If you would like more information on language concerned with disability, see our Images of Disability section.

The Social Model of Disability

Impairment is an injury, illness, or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a long-term effect on appearance and/or limitation of function of the individual.

Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in society on an equal level with others due to social and environmental barriers

Impairments and chronic illness often pose real difficulties for disabled people but they are not the main problems. It is the 'barriers' which exist in society that create the main problems. The three main areas of barrier are:

environment (including inaccessible buildings and services)
attitudes (stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice)
organisations which operate inflexible procedures and practices

Disabling barriers experienced in the past can continue to have an adverse effect. For example, disabled people who attended segregated schools may have gained lower academic qualifications than their non-disabled peers, because their ‘special’ school failed to provide a proper mainstream curriculum.

The Medical Model of Disability

The medical model is sometimes also known as the ‘personal model’. This is the traditional view that the inability of disabled people to fully participate in society is a direct result of having a disability, not a result of physical features of society. The individual is 'impaired' and the impairment is the problem to be overcome. This model relies on a strong notion of what is ‘normal’, thereby emphasising the ‘abnormality’ of impaired people.

This model is more likely to lead to the targeting of special welfare benefits, and the provision of segregated services for disabled people.

The focus of the medical profession is to alleviate the effects of impairments, and disabled people need to be treated and rehabilitated to enable them to participate more fully. This model suggests that disabled people should try, wherever possible, to live in the norms and patterns of mainstream society.