Short answer

The Social Model of Disability says people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their bodies or minds.

This means disability is created by:

  • Inaccessible buildings
  • Discriminatory attitudes
  • Rigid systems and policies
  • Lack of reasonable adjustments

Not by impairment itself.

In one sentence: The problem is not disabled people, the problem is disabling environments and systems

Easy Read: What is the Social Model?

  • Disabled people are not the problem.
  • Barriers in society are the problem.
  • Removing barriers creates equality.
  • This model supports rights, not pity.

The Social Model explained

The Social Model was developed by disabled activists in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. It came from lived experience, from people who were excluded not because of their bodies, but because of how society was organised.

The Social Model separates:

  • Impairment, how your body or mind works
  • Disability, the barriers society puts in your way

Example:

  • Not being able to walk is an impairment
  • Steps into a building without a ramp are disabling

Social Model vs Medical Model

Social Model Medical Model
Society disables people People are disabled by their bodies
Focus on removing barriers Focus on fixing individuals
Supports rights and access Supports treatment and cure
Leads to reasonable adjustments Leads to assessments and gatekeeping

Why the Social Model matters

Access is a right, not a favour The Social Model underpins disability rights law

The Social Model:

  • Supports disability rights and equality law
  • Underpins reasonable adjustment duties
  • Challenges stigma and blame
  • Shifts responsibility from individuals to systems
  • Creates space for collective action

Is the Social Model perfect?

No model explains everything.

Some disabled people say the Social Model:

  • Does not fully account for pain, fatigue or illness
  • Can overlook personal experiences of impairment

Many disabled activists now use a social-relational model, which recognises both lived impairment and social barriers, while still rejecting blame and medicalisation.

How the Social Model shows up in law

UK equality law closely follows the Social Model. For example:

  • Employers must make reasonable adjustments
  • Landlords must remove access barriers where reasonable
  • Service providers must anticipate disabled people’s access needs

This is because the law recognises that exclusion is created by systems, not individuals.

FAQs

What is the Social Model of Disability?

The Social Model says people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their bodies or minds.

Is the Social Model used in the UK?

Yes. UK equality law aligns closely with the Social Model, especially around reasonable adjustments and access duties.

Does the Social Model deny impairment?

No. It recognises impairment but says impairment is not the cause of social exclusion.

Who created the Social Model?

Disabled activists in the UK, especially the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in the 1970s.

Want to learn more about disability rights?

Difference North East is a disabled-led organisation working for disability justice, access and equality across the North East.

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