Disability is a broad term that describes a wide range of experiences. Some dictionaries, such as Oxford Languages, define \u201cdisabled\u201d as \u201chaving a physical or mental condition that limits movement, senses, or activities.\u201d While this definition reflects a common understanding, it does not fully capture the complexity of disability as it is lived and understood today.<\/p>\n
Disability can include, but is not limited to:<\/p>\n
Disabilities are not always visible, and someone may be disabled even if it is not immediately apparent. Additionally, people may experience disability differently over time or across different environments.<\/p>\n
Disability is often discussed using different models that shape how it is understood and addressed. The two most common models are the\u00a0medical model<\/strong> and the\u00a0social model<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The medical model<\/strong> views disability as a problem located within an individual\u2019s body or mind. While this is crucial for accessing medical care and treatment, it has several limitations. For example, the medical model tends to frame disabled people as “deficient” in some way, overlooks the intersectional nature of disability, and shifts attention away from the environment onto the individual.<\/p>\n In contrast, the social model<\/strong> argues that disability is created largely by barriers in society and not just by individual impairments. This model distinguishes between impairments<\/em> (physical, sensory, or mental differences) and disability<\/em> (restrictions imposed by society on those living with these impairments). The focus then is on removing such barriers and shifts responsibility from disabled individuals to society as a whole.<\/p>\n At its most basic level, the word \u201caccessible\u201d can be defined as \u201cable to be reached, entered, or used by people who have a disability\u201d (Oxford Languages).<\/p>\n However, we also want to highlight the following definition from the NCState Disability Resources Office:<\/p>\n \u201cAccessible\u201d means that a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to:<\/p>\n as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally, and independently as a person without a disability.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Introduction to Disability & Accessibility What is disability? Disability is a broad term that describes a wide range of experiences. Some dictionaries, such as Oxford Languages, define \u201cdisabled\u201d as \u201chaving a physical or mental condition that limits movement, senses, … Continue reading What is accessibility?<\/h4>\n
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