Social Model of Disability

The social model of disability was developed in the 1970’s by disabled people who used their personal experiences to show that the disadvantage and social exclusion experienced by many disabled people is not the inevitable result of their impairments or medical conditions, but stems from attitudinal and environmental barriers. The Social Model recognises that while some people may have impairments which affect how they function physically or mentally, they are actually disabled by the barriers in society that fail to take proper account of their needs. The basis of the College policy and practice in relation to disabled people and of the development of this DES and action plan is about the removal of these barriers.