There have been many models used to understand disability over time.

Most people with disability subscribe to the Social Model and Human Rights Model of disability.

The Social Model aims to make society more accessible by removing stigma and discrimination. It focuses on barriers to access that are created by mainstream society and asserts that people with disability are disabled by the environment they live in, and not by the features of their own bodies.

While the Social Model is still used in disability advocacy today, there are a number of flaws with this framework. The Human Rights Model of Disability extends from the social model and tells us that disability cannot be used as an excuse to discriminate or deny access and opportunity. Equality does not mean treating everyone the same, and governments have a responsibility to support people with disabilities.

These flaws have been addressed through the development of the Human Rights Model. The Human Rights Model:

▪ Recognises that disability is a natural part of human diversity that must be respected and supported in all its forms.
▪ Recognises people with disability as experts in all matters that affect them.
▪ Recognises that equality does not mean treating everyone the same.
▪ Places accountability on governments to take action.

The gender equality approach means understanding that people are treated differently based on both their gender and disability.

Not all models of disability are empowering of people with disability, for example according to the Medical Model, ‘disability’ is a health condition dealt with by medical professionals. People with disability are thought to be different to ‘what is normal’ or abnormal. ‘Disability’ is seen ‘to
be a problem of the individual. From the Medical Model, a person with disability is in need of being fixed or cured. From this point of view, disability is a tragedy and people with disability are to be pitied. The Medical Model of disability is all about what a person cannot do and cannot be.

Models of disability are helpful in understanding the experience of people with disability and the society, systems, attitudes and barriers that exists around them.