Fundamental concepts of inclusive education

Ableism is a term used to describe a way of thinking produced through able-bodied experience. If left unexamined and unchallenged, able-bodied experience leads to narrow or ableist perceptions that can result in unlawful indirect discrimination. The medical model of disability arose from the biomedical sciences and views impairments as the source of disability. The social model distinguishes disability from impairment. According to the social model, impairment is the individual characteristic, such as paraplegia, whereas disability is the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by societal barriers to the participation of people with impairments The social model has had far-reaching impact for people with disability. The biopsychosocial model of disability attempts to integrate the medical and social models of disability. The human-rights model opposes the belief that impairment can hinder human-rights capacity. The social model of disability offers a framework with practical applications for the development of inclusive schools.