The Social Model of Disability
The North Wales Access Panel is committed to working through the Social Model of Disability, which is the understanding that disability is created by society.
Disabled people face barriers that stop them from taking part in society in the same way as non-disabled people can. There are a range of these barriers, for example:
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A sign that someone with a visual impairment can’t see or read
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An inaccessible building without wheelchair ramps
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A webpage with flashing animations that could trigger a seizure
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Social barriers or attitudinal barriers, like stereotypical beliefs that non-disabled people have about disabled people... Assuming that a disabled person “can’t do” something creates a barrier for that person
The medical model, which is traditionally used by many services, suggests that people are disabled because of impairments or conditions that they have. The social model recognises that from a disabled person’s perspective, the problems they face are the barriers they experience in society.
Disability isn’t something that exists inside your body or your mind. It’s something that is created by an inaccessible society; the experience of not being able to take part in society because of barriers you face with your impairment.
Disability and impairment are not the same thing. An impairment is a functional difficulty someone experiences in their body or mind. If you have a hearing impairment, for example, you might need sounds to be louder for you to hear them, or you may not be able to hear them at all.