Social and medical models of disability

Introduction To answer this question it is first necessary to look at the way in which the words ‘impairment’, ‘disability’ and ‘disablement’ are used in the field of Disability Studies. This requires an analysis of the social model of disability and the way in which it contrasts with the medical model of disability, including a discussion of how the social model has been used and refined as well as its perceived limitations. There then follows a discussion of the meaning of ‘experience of disablement’ and ‘impairment effects’ in the context of a more nuanced understanding of the meaning of disability and of the significance of personal experiences of disabled people, including their psycho-emotional wellbeing. An evaluation of the impact of impairment effects on the experience of disablement highlights complex issues and leads to some unexpected conclusions.