Models of disability

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) describes a disabled person as 'anyone with a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect upon their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'.  However,

There are two competing explanations of disability:

• Medical model: Disability is a physical or mental defect which limits a person’s ability to function normally
• Social model: Disability is caused by social, economic and material barriers experienced by people with physical, mental or sensory impairments, in societies which take little or no account of their need to participate equally.

These models might provide a useful framework when exploring the materials that follow.

For more information about the legislation use this internal link

Labour market information - future trends

You may also wish to use the LMI Future Trends section of this website, which is organised under various sectors.  Each includes a section dedicated to equal opportunities issues, and where available this incorporates data on disability.  You are encouraged to visit and use the resources available.  For example: equal opportunities issues in relation to employment in the education sector

Background information, disability in the UK.

A qualitative study of attitudes towards and experiences of disability in Britain (2000), alongside some statistical information about disabled people in the UK taken from the Office for National Statistics.

Experiences of people with mental health problems at work

Some findings drawn from research on 'Out at work: a survey of the experiences of people with mental health problems within the workplace' by Lesley Warner (2002), London: The Mental Health Foundation.

Becoming adult: young disabled people speak

This Joseph Rowntree Foundation study of 72 young adults who have grown up with disability compares the experiences of a group who achieved independent households and jobs with groups of people who achieved one of these or neither. The study aimed to draw out the factors that enable and support disabled young people to move to independent adulthood.