In the social model of disability, disability is produced by what?

• A. Disability is a defect within the individual.
• B. Disability is purely a medical problem.
• C. Disability is a personal moral failing.
• D. Disability arises from social barriers and lack of accommodation.

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is that disability is produced by society, not by the person's impairment alone. In the social model, an impairment is a condition a person has, but disability arises when environmental and social barriers prevent that person from participating fully. Think about practical barriers: buildings without ramps or elevators, information not available in accessible formats, policies that assume able-bodied users, or attitudes that exclude or stigmatize certain groups. If society removed these barriers and provided accommodations, many of the participation limits associated with the impairment would disappear or shrink dramatically. This shifts the focus from “fixing the person” to changing the world around them—designing accessible spaces, adopting inclusive practices, and enforcing anti-discrimination.

The other explanations point to the person rather than the environment. Seeing disability as a defect within the individual or as a purely medical problem locates limitation inside the person rather than in how the world is arranged. Labeling disability as a personal moral failing attributes blame to the individual and ignores the social context that creates barriers.