People with disabilities are individuals who have some type of limitation in mobility,
cognition, vision, hearing, or other disorders.¹¹ Disability is not defined by any specific health condition, but whether that condition actually creates significant limitations for an individual affecting their daily lives and functioning.

Disability models can be used as guidelines or tools to help define impairments and limitations associated with disability, and provide a basis for strategies to meet the needs of people with disabilities.¹²  No one model can completely describe the disability experience because disability itself is complex and the experiences of people with disabilities will vary widely.¹³ There are several primary models of disability.  Having knowledge of these models will help public health professionals more effectively interact with and support people with disabilities, as well as understand the relationship between the disability and people’s everyday lives.¹⁴

Learning Objectives

1.1 Compare and contrast different models of disability.

1.2 Apply model(s) of disability for a particular scope of work or population served.