How we talk about disability matters!

There are four main frameworks people use to describe disability. These frameworks are known as the ‘models’ of disability. From an advocacy perspective, it’s important to think about how these models can either limit or advance the rights of people with disability. This guide explains the concept of human rights and the four models of disability: human rights, social, medical and charitable. 

Specifically, this guide: 

• explains the concept of human rights
• introduces the human rights model, explaining how it builds on and extends the social model of disability
• explain how the human rights model builds on and extends the social model of disability
• explains some of the key differences between the human rights model and the social model of disability
• explains why the medical and charitable models of disability are not consistent with human rights principles.