Medical vs. Social Models: Redefining Disability Today
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/01/15 - Updated: 2025/06/14
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Glossary and Definitions - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article outlines the two major frameworks used today to define disability: the medical model, which focuses on individual impairments and functional limitations as conditions needing medical intervention, and the social model, which shifts attention to social and environmental barriers that restrict full participation. Drawing on definitions from WHO and lived experience, it emphasizes how society - through inaccessible infrastructure, attitudes, and policy - often creates disability more than the impairment itself. This perspective is especially useful for people with disabilities, seniors, caregivers, and policymakers, as it clarifies that meaningful inclusion involves addressing societal barriers just as much as medical concerns. - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
How would you define or describe a disability today?
Officially, there are many ways of defining what a disability is, although the two most commonly used models used for deriving the definitions are known as the 'medical model' and the 'social model'(1).
Main Content
The Medical Model of Disability
The World Health Organization (WHO) created the medical model in the early 1980's and the definitions within were biased toward the convenience of medical personnel. The medical model breaks disability down into three key definition areas:
Impairment
Which means the loss or abnormality in structure or function.
Disability
Which refers to the inability to perform an activity within the normal range of a human being because of said impairment.
Handicap
The inability to carry out normal social roles because of an impairment/disability. This model and associated terms are not popular with groups out with the medical profession, especially with the disabled themselves, as these definitions give the impression that disability is allied to ill health and it is the medical profession that hold the answers to solving the problems connected to disability.
The Social Model of Disability
The social model is the preferred method of realizing the true effects of a disability or impairment.
The social model specifically looks at the way in which the lives of disabled people are affected by the barriers that society imposes. It is strongly believed that if social and environmental barriers were removed, there would be a more realistic possibility of disabled people living a more equal and normal life alongside non-disabled people. This would create a significant reduction in the true effects and hardships of coping with a disability.
The social model effectively emphasizes the social, economical and environmental restrictions rather than the physical or mental restrictions of the impairment. Unfortunately it is discriminatory attitudes and ignorance that continue to cause the real problems in the lives of people living with impairments.
Living With Disability
The causes of disabilities are many and varied, and affect people of all cultural and social backgrounds. Living and environmental conditions as well as financial circumstances will all affect how people are able to manage their disabilities. People with more money for instance, are able to pay for home adaptations, mobility products and additional care if it is required, whereas people on lower incomes are not able to do the same.
(1) - See: All The Models of Disability
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Ultimately, the way we define disability shapes our attitudes, policies, and daily interactions, making it essential to consider both individual needs and systemic barriers - only then can society move toward genuine inclusion and equal opportunity for all. The discussion of disability models in this piece underscores a critical truth: how we define disability shapes how we address it. While the medical model focuses on fixing individual impairments, the social model challenges us to dismantle environmental and attitudinal barriers. This duality invites reflection on the shared responsibility to create a world where participation isn't dictated by physical or mental differences. For individuals, families, and policymakers, the article serves as a call to move beyond outdated perceptions and advocate for systemic change that prioritizes accessibility and equity, ensuring that everyone can engage fully in society - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.