Child nodes highlight differing systems within the American legal system to prove disability status and differing definition of disability created by different laws governing disability rights.

Legal Challenges in Defining Disability in American Law

Children nodes connected include several alternate ways of classifying and defining disability

- Medical Model 
- Social Model
- Identity Model
- Human Rights Model
- Cultural Model
- Economic Model
- Charity Model
- Limits Model
- Cultural Model
- Educational Model
- Functional Model
- Materialist Social Model

Conflicting Models and Definitions of Disability

Defining disability, what it is and importantly who is included inside of it, remains controversial among different disciplines. This can lead to justice issues and denial of care for individuals who may not fit some definitions of disability and yet still identify as disabled.

Grinnell College

Pepperdine University

- Disability History
- Theories/Definitions of Disability
- Disability Legislation/Policy
- Disability Culture
- Accessibility
- Types of Disability 
- Economic Impacts of Disability
- Inclusive Education and Community Support 
- Black Disability Studies

Topics in Disability Studies

Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee to Review the Social Security Administration's Disability Decision Process Research; Wunderlich GS, Rice DP, Amado NL, editors. The Dynamics of Disability: Measuring and Monitoring Disability for Social Security Programs. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 3, Conceptual Issues in Defining Work Disability. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220745/

The Dynamics of Disability: Measuring and Monitoring Disability for Social Security Programs

The study of the impact disability has on individual's wealth.

Economic Impacts of Disability

The differences in norms, lifestyles, and social identities, propagated among disabled individuals. It often forms as a reaction toward past and present attitudes towards disabled communities. It promotes connection, camaraderie, and a shared purpose among those in the community. It also includes a motivation for people with disabilities to address their own civil, social, political, and economic needs

Disability Culture

Laws and policies created by governments and government agencies in order to protect the rights of disabled individuals. 

Disability Rights Legislation 

Ensuring that all people have the ability to utilize a product, facility, or service, regardless of any disability they may have. Accessibility may include the modification of existing infrastructure, products, or services or designing them with disabled users in mind.

Accessibility

While not all disabilities can fit neatly into one category, these categories generally encapsulate the types of disabilities through the Impairment Dimension.

-	Cognitive / Intellectual 
-	Chronic Illnesses 
-	Developmental
-	Mental 
-	Physical / Sensory
-	Speech / Communication


Types of Disabilities

Challenges in Defining Disability

The evolution of how every topic regarding disabilities has changed over time throughout the world.

History of Disability Studies

To address some of the ideological disconnects between educators and parents, researchers have suggested teachers consider a Disability Studies (DS) framework as they collaborate with families on the IEP process. Scholars approaching DS through 
an educational lens applies the constructing pieces of disability studies to the exploration of disability in school contexts.

Using The Framework of Disability studies to Formulate An IEP

Abosi, O., & Koay, T. L. (2008). Attaining Development Goals of Children with Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education. International Journal of Special Education, 23(3), 1–10. 

Attaining Developmental Goals of Children with Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education

The aim of inclusive education is to help people with disabilities live independent lives in their communities by allowing them access to equal educational and social opportunities. It eliminates discrimination in education by approaching differences with consideration, patience, and compassion. 

Aim of Inclusive Education

A caregiver is the parent or other family member that is responsible for parenting or caring for a child with a disability. A caregiver provides daily unpaid support for a person who is unable to perform the necessary tasks for daily living.

Caregivers

The inclusion of individuals with disabilities in research is a debated topic lacking protocol. 

Learn Before

Related

Learn After