4.3. Outline the reasons why the social model focuses on ‘disability’ and not ‘impairment’

This guide will help you answer 4.3. Outline the reasons why the social model focuses on ‘disability’ and not ‘impairment’.

Understanding why the social model focuses on “disability” and not “impairment” is critical. This distinction lies at the heart of the social model’s approach to creating inclusion, equality, and opportunities for disabled people. This guide will help you understand why this shift in focus is so important when working in health and social care and supporting others.

What Do ‘Disability’ and ‘Impairment’ Mean?

The social model makes a clear distinction between ‘impairment’ and ‘disability.’ These terms describe different aspects of an individual’s experience.

Impairment

• What it means: An impairment is a physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory condition. It is a difference or limitation in a person’s body or mind.

Examples of impairments:

• Being blind or having partial sight.
• Hearing loss or deafness.
• Mobility limitations, such as needing to use a wheelchair.
• Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.
• Cognitive impairments like learning disabilities or dementia.

An impairment is simply a fact about someone’s body or mind. It does not inherently make someone unable to participate in society.

Disability

• What it means: Disability, as defined by the social model, is the disadvantage or exclusion a person experiences as a result of external barriers. These barriers can be physical, attitudinal, social, or cultural.

Examples of disability:

• A blind person being unable to read local information because it is not available in audio or Braille formats.
• A wheelchair user being unable to access a public bus because it lacks a ramp.
• A person with anxiety avoiding certain social situations due to stigma and judgement from others.

While impairments are part of a person, the social model argues that society creates disability by failing to remove barriers and include people with impairments.

Why the Social Model Focuses on Disability

The social model deliberately focuses on disability rather than impairment. This is because it shifts accountability from the individual to society. Below are the reasons this difference matters.

1. Disability Is Created by Society

The social model argues that a person’s impairment alone does not make them “disabled.” What makes someone disabled are the barriers they face. These barriers, created by society, prevent them from participating fully in everyday life.

Examples include:

• Physical barriers: Inaccessible buildings, lack of lifts, or transport that does not accommodate wheelchairs.
• Attitudinal barriers: Stereotypes or assumptions that disabled people can’t live independently or work effectively.
• Communication barriers: Lack of sign language interpreters, poor website accessibility, or reliance on written-only materials.

By focusing on “disability,” the social model encourages us to tackle these barriers directly. This makes society responsible for removing obstacles, rather than expecting the person to change or adapt.

2. ‘Impairment’ Is Just One Aspect of a Person’s Life

The social model moves beyond the medical or physical condition itself. Instead, it sees individuals as people with strengths, talents, and potential. By focusing on disability (society’s barriers) rather than impairment (the individual’s condition), the model promotes a broader understanding of inclusion and all-encompassing equality.

For example:

• A person with mobility issues might have the skills and ability to be a great teacher. An inaccessible school building, rather than their impairment, is what prevents their inclusion in the workplace. The focus should then be on creating accessible teaching spaces – not on the impairment itself.

3. Challenges Stereotypes and Assumptions

Focusing on “disability” also challenges views of disabled people that have been shaped by the medical model. In the medical model, people with impairments may be viewed as “weak,” “broken,” or “dependent.” This approach may create stereotypes and reinforce pity or negative attitudes.

The social model avoids these harmful assumptions by focusing on societal barriers. It promotes the idea that disabled people are equal members of society, who can thrive with the right opportunities and adjustments. The message becomes less about “what’s wrong with them?” and more about “what needs to change within society?”

4. Disability Is Preventable

Under the social model, disability is something that can be prevented or reduced by removing barriers. Focusing on the environment, not the impairment, gives society the power to eliminate unnecessary challenges faced by disabled people.

For example:

• Without step-free access, a wheelchair user is disabled by stairs in a building.
• With step-free access, the person is no longer “disabled” because the barrier is removed.

This focus on disability inspires organisations, institutions, and communities to make practical changes and create spaces that are inclusive.

5. Focuses on Rights, Not Diagnosis

By shifting the focus to “disability,” the social model aligns with human rights. It doesn’t label people by their impairment and avoids framing them as a medical issue. Instead, it treats access, inclusion, and respect as fundamental rights that everyone deserves.

For example:

• A person with autism may struggle with overly stimulating environments. Focusing on their right to accommodation transforms the environment (e.g., quieter spaces, sensory-friendly rooms) rather than blaming the person’s impairment.

The Push for Equality

When the focus is placed on “disability,” the social model pushes for equality. It frames disability as everyone’s concern, not just the individual’s problem. This approach means organisations, communities, and societies must address the following:

• Reducing discrimination and stigma.
• Designing spaces, tools, and services that are accessible.
• Providing reasonable adjustments so that individuals can participate equally.

This shift benefits everyone. When environments are inclusive, not only are barriers removed for disabled people, but they often improve for other groups too. For instance, ramps designed to include wheelchair users can also help parents with pushchairs, people with suitcases, or delivery workers with trolleys.

Criticism of the Approach

While the focus on “disability” is central to the social model, it is not without criticism. Some argue that:

• Impairments still matter: Some impairments cause pain, fatigue, or require medical intervention, even if the environment removes external barriers. For example, someone with chronic pain may still have challenges despite inclusive environments.
• Barriers cannot always be entirely removed: Some barriers, like historic inaccessible buildings, may take time to address fully.

In these cases, a balanced approach that considers both societal changes (the social model) and medical support or personal needs (the medical model) can be useful.

Examples in Practice

Here are some everyday examples illustrating why the focus on “disability” rather than “impairment” shapes social progress:

Public Transport:

• Impairment: A mobility condition making it hard to walk.
• Disability: A bus without a wheelchair ramp.
• Action under the social model: Provide buses with ramps and announce disability-inclusive policies.

Workplace Inclusion:

• Impairment: Hearing loss affecting communication.
• Disability: Lack of captions or interpreters in meetings or training sessions.
• Action under the social model: Offer sign-language interpreters, provide written materials, or use audio-to-text software.

Accessible Education:

• Impairment: Dyslexia making reading standard text challenging.
• Disability: Schools not offering materials in audio or easy-read formats.
• Action under the social model: Create inclusive teaching resources to enable participation regardless of impairments.

Conclusion: Encouraging Change

By focusing on “disability” rather than “impairment,” the social model encourages everyone to think differently. It highlights societal responsibility, promotes equality, and encourages inclusion. This shift motivates changes to legislation, policy, and everyday practices, benefitting disabled people and society as a whole.

As someone working in health and social care, embracing the social model means looking at what you can do to break down barriers. When you focus on removing these barriers, rather than seeing someone’s impairment as the problem, you are helping create a world where everybody has equal opportunities to live, work, and thrive. This empowering focus redefines the way disability is understood, moving away from individual blame and towards collective responsibility.