When thinking about ‘disability’ one should think not just about a medical condition or a personal trait, but rather as something that is shaped by how we, as a society, understand it. The way disability is defined affects how people with disabilities are treated, supported, and included. From healthcare to education, from employment to digital design, our approach is guided by the "model" we use to understand disability.
Here is a short statistic: Over 1.3 billion people around the world live with some form of disability, that's roughly 1 in 6 of us, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S. alone, the CDC reports that 1 in 4 adults have a disability that impacts major life activities (CDC).
There are multiple theoretical frameworks, or models, that offer different perspectives on disability. Each model has its own strengths, weaknesses, and implications for accessibility, inclusion, and policy. In practice, no single model tells the whole story, but by exploring them, we gain a deeper understanding of how to better support people with disabilities.
The medical model views disability as a problem located within the individual. It assumes that the source of disability is a medical condition or impairment, and focuses on diagnosis, treatment, cure, or rehabilitation.
"In the medical model, medical care is viewed as the main issue, and at the political level, the principal response is that of modifying or reforming health care policy." Disabled World
Example: A person who is blind would be offered surgery or assistive devices like a prosthetic eye to "fix" the disability.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The social model shifts the focus from the individual to society. It argues that disability is caused by environmental and attitudinal barriers, not by the impairment itself.
"The way society is conceptualised causes disability, rather than a person’s impairment or difference." - Disability Hub Australia
Example: A person using a wheelchair isn’t disabled by their condition but by the presence of stairs and the absence of ramps.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The biopsychosocial model blends the medical and social models by recognizing that disability arises from the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors.
"It is not simply the biological factors that need to be considered, but also the psychological and social factors." - Physio-Pedia
Example: A rehabilitation plan for someone recovering from a spinal injury would consider physical therapy (medical), emotional support (psychological), and accessible housing (social).
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The economic model views disability in terms of economic impact: on the individual, employer, and state. It defines disability based on how impairments affect productivity and access to work.
"Such consequences include loss of earnings for and payment for assistance by the individual; lower profit margins for the employer; and state welfare payments." - Specialeducationnotes.io
Example: Government disability benefits are often based on assessments aligned with the economic model.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The functional solutions model focuses on solving practical limitations through innovation, technology, and services.
"The primary task is to eliminate, or at least reduce, the impact of the functional limitations of the body through technological or methodological innovation." - HandWiki
Example: A visually impaired user navigating a website with a screen reader demonstrates how technology removes access barriers. Clym's accessibility widget is a real-world application of this model, allowing users to adjust font size, contrast, keyboard navigation, and more, empowering them to engage with content on their terms. Including an accessibility widget helps your website be more inclusive, meets compliance standards, and creates a better experience for all users.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The social identity Model (also called the Cultural Affiliation Model) frames disability as an identity shared with a community.
"Deaf people consider themselves as a linguistic and cultural group, with highly complex
natural languages but the rights of deaf people are however assured through disability policy, legislation and international instruments." - wfdeaf.org
Example: Members of Deaf culture who use sign language and embrace Deaf identity often reject the idea of needing to be "fixed."
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The charity model sees people with disabilities as unfortunate, dependent, and in need of external help.
"The Charity approach to disability is viewed as being in the ‘best interests’ of disabled people but it does not consider disabled people’s experiences and knowledge as necessarily valuable or essential" - Berkley Disability Lab
Example: A telethon that highlights people with disabilities primarily to evoke pity and raise donations.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Scenario: A mid-sized e-commerce company is redesigning its website. The product team is tasked with improving the user experience for all customers, including those with disabilities. The CEO asks: “What kind of accessibility do we need, and why?”
How Each Model Influences Their Approach:
Outcome:
By combining insights from multiple models, especially the social, functional solutions, and biopsychosocial models, the business builds a website that’s more inclusive, user-friendly, and aligned with current accessibility expectations. They shift from seeing accessibility as a legal checkbox to an opportunity for ethical design and better service.
These frameworks influence more than theory, they shape real-life experiences. Laws, policies, building designs, classroom settings, healthcare systems, and even marketing campaigns are all built upon assumptions from these models.
Inclusive societies don’t rely on just one perspective. They adapt, combining insights from multiple models to address both systemic barriers and individual needs.
By understanding these models of disability, we can create spaces, services, and systems that recognize the full humanity and potential of disabled people.