Discussing disability ‐ an investigation into theories of disability

ABSTRACT

>In the contemporary debate on the theories of disability some writers have questioned able‐bodied people's ability to understand the experience of disability when they themselves lack this kind of experience. This paper questions this claim. An investigation into various conceptions and theories concerning disability will be elaborated and discussed. In the recent literature it has been stated that disability is socially created, and that disablism is an oppression because of disablist societies. Disability as a social creation has been promoted as the only fruitful perspective concerning disability. This conception will be challenged by arguing that its core argument might encourage a severe oppression of disabled people.