The Social Model of Disability

This entry explores the historical emergence and enduring impact of the social model of disability (SMD) since its inception, highlighting its ongoing relevance. Originating as a critique of the limitations inherent in individualistic medical and charity models, the SMD reconceptualized disability as a social issue rather than a personal deficit, attributing disadvantages to societal barriers rather than impairments. This paradigm shift has catalyzed a political awakening among the disabled persons and their allies, nurturing a stronger disability identity, challenging institutional discrimination, and shaping policy and academic discourse. Critics have voiced concerns regarding the SMD’s theoretical framework, its adequacy as an independent theory, its engagement with impairment experiences, and its relevance for diverse disabled persons across ethnicity, age, class, sexuality, and gender. Nevertheless, we argue that the SMD’s focus on societal structures enables collective action and advocacy addressing the systemic inequalities experienced by disabled persons.