Skip to Main Content

Quinebaug Valley Campus Library

Quinebaug Valley Disability Culture & Community

What is Disability Studies?

Disability studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines disability from a variety of perspectives, including cultural, historic, legal, and political perspectives. Key aspects of the field include centering the experiences of disabled people, emphasizing the role of the disability community in defining problems and solutions, and examining the intersectionality of disability and other identities. 

Models of Disability

Although people have various individual perspectives on disability, these viewpoints can be categorized into three overarching models of disability: the moral model, the medical model, and the social model. Each model has potential costs and benefits. 

In the moral model of disability, disability is seen as being caused by divine influence. This influence could be good or evil. In this model, disability can be seen as as sign of dishonor, karma, strength, etc.

In the medical model of disability, disability is seen as an impairment in the body that is inherently pathological. In this model, disability is something to be "fixed."

 In the social model of disability, disability is the result of a mismatch between the disabled person and their environment. In this model, it is the environment which creates barriers, not the disability.

Olkin, R. (March 29, 2022). Conceptualizing disability: Three models of disability. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/disability-models

Databases and Topic Guides