Mini Defintions - Disability

Medical Model of Disability

The Medical Model of Disability is a way of thinking about disability.

The model focuses on someone’s impairment as being the main cause for why they may experience barriers to fully participating in society.

The model argues that it is most important to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate these impairments to change or ‘fix’ them.

It tends to be viewed as opposite to the Social Model of Disability.

Social Model of Disability

The Social Model of Disability is a way of thinking about disability.

The model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, rather than by any specific impairment.

The model argues that these barriers – such as inaccessible buildings or people’s attitude to disability – should be removed to create greater equality.

It tends to be viewed as opposite to the Medical Model of Disability.

Disability

In the UK, the definition of disability is given in a law called the Equality Act 2010.

Under the Equality Act, a person is disabled if they have a “physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities”.

The definition of a disability has lots of elements but, in short, whether a person is disabled under UK law tends to be determined by the size of the impact – as well as how long the impact will last – on a person’s ability to do everyday activities.

It tends to be viewed as opposite to the Social Model of Disability.

Reasonable Adjustment

A reasonable adjustment (RA) is a change – often made by an employer or a healthcare professional – that reduces or removes barriers that someone may face due to their disability.

For example, a person may need changes to an environment or to a building to make it accessible to them.

Long Term Health Condition

The NHS defines a long term health condition as:

“a condition that cannot, at present, be cured but is controlled by medication and/or other treatment/therapies”

A Progressive Condition

A progressive condition deteriorates gradually over time.

Individuals with progressive conditions may be categorised as disabled.