Social model of disability

A framework that locates disability not in the individual but in societal barriers — physical, attitudinal, and systemic — that prevent full participation by people with impairments. Under the social model, a wheelchair user is disabled not by their inability to walk, but by buildings without ramps, websites without keyboard navigation, and attitudes that assume walking is the norm. The social model emerged from disability rights movements in the 1970s and 1980s and has been profoundly influential in shaping accessibility legislation and standards. It underpins the principle that accessibility is a right, not a favour, and that the responsibility for inclusion lies with designers, developers, and organisations rather than with individuals who must adapt to inaccessible systems. The social model complements the functional approach used in standards like WCAG and Access For All.