Social Model of Disability

The Social Model of Disability

"Disability Wales aims to promote the understanding, adoption and implementation of the Social Model of Disability throughout Wales"
Disability Wales Strategic Plan, 2004

• What disabled people in Wales say about the Social Model
• The Medical and Social Models of Disability
• Definition of ‘disability’
• Examples of how society could change to allow disabled people to participate equally

What disabled people in Wales say about the Social Model

"The Social Model of Disability literally saved my life; after I understood what it was about it was my lifeline – it freed me up to be who I am"

"It puts the onus back on society to remove the barriers"

"It’s empowering; I can direct my energies into improving my quality of life."

Disabled people generally have fewer opportunities and a lower quality of life than non-disabled people. There are two different ways of explaining what causes this disadvantage: the Medical Model of Disability and the Social Model of Disability.