The Social Model of Disability

The Independent Living (IL) philosophy however promoted a 'social model' of disability - with the premise that people with disabilities have a right to actively participate in, and contribute to society as equals and without dependence on family, institutions or charity.

The social model recognises that people with disabilities are prevented from achieving their full potential by the attitude of society, as well as environmental obstacles such as restrictions in their access to public transport, entertainment and public places, and in education and employment.

The focus is not on rehabilitating the individual with a disability therefore, but on rehabilitating society and the environment, in order to make it accessible and create inclusion for the person with a disability as a consumer rather than as a patient. It is recognised that the real experts, when it comes to designing services, are those with the closest possible experiences of the issues - people with disabilities themselves.