The Social model of disability

The social model of disability is the starting point for everything we do and is the idea that people are not disabled by their condition, but by a world that doesn’t meet their needs.

For example:

  • If you are Deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL), you are disabled because there is often no BSL interpreter, not because you are Deaf.
  • If you use a wheelchair, you are disabled because there is often no step free access to buildings, not because you use a wheelchair.
  • If you are autistic and find the bright lights in meeting rooms difficult, you are disabled because the meeting host has not adjusted the lighting, not because you are autistic.
  • If you have a bowel condition  which means you need an accessible toilet, you are disabled by the attitudes of people who make you feel that you shouldn’t be using an accessible toilet, not by your bowel condition.
  • If you are visually impaired, you are disabled by not being given information in audio or large print, not by your visual impairment.
  • If you have anxiety and depression and find travelling at rush hour more difficult, you are disabled by your employer not making reasonable adjustments to allow for flexible working, not by your mental health.
  • We are positive we can help create a world where everybody has equal access to education, work and life in a way that meets their needs.

 

 

Who created the social model of disability?

Disability activists came up with the social model of disability in response to civil rights movements in the late 20th century.

In the 1960s and 1970s, lots of disabled people were excluded from society. The disability rights movement began as people started to question their experiences. Several disability rights groups developed the idea of a social approach to disability.

The disabled academic Mike Oliver first coined the term “social model of disability” in 1983.

 

 

 

The Medical model of disability

The social model of disability is an alternative to the medical model of disability.

The medical model suggests that people are disabled because of impairments or conditions that they have.

This suggests that the problem is with the disabled person. But the social model recognises that from a disabled person’s perspective, the problems they face are the barriers they experience in society.

 

 

 

“Impairment” versus “disability”

It’s important to remember that if you’re following the social model of disability, impairment and disability are not the same thing.

An impairment is a functional difficulty someone experiences in their body or mind. If you have a hearing impairment, for example, you might need sounds to be louder for you to hear them, or you may not be able to hear them at all.

Disability is the experience of not being able to take part in society because of barriers you face with your impairment. For example, if a video doesn’t have subtitles, and you can’t hear it.

 

 

 

What is a Disabled People’s Organisation? (DPO)

We are a representative organisation of disabled people (a DPO) which means that the majority of our staff, volunteers and our board of trustees have lived experience of disability or a long term health condition.

 

This map is the result of compiling old databases of Disabled Peoples’ Organisations (DPOs) from a variety of sources and then checking whether the DPOs still exist or others have been created. Of course, as soon as this map is published it is out of date – DPOs move, new ones open and some have to close. But at December 2022 this is what the UK DPO sector looks like. 

 

For this map a DPO is defined as an organisation that has – 

  • A majority of disabled people (51% at least) on its board or governing committee (or working towards this), 

  • A majority of staff and volunteers (51% at least) are disabled people (or working towards this), and 

  • A commitment to the social model of disability. 

You can interact with the map by moving it around and zooming in or out to look at the areas in which you are interested. By clicking on an icon on the map you will find a variety of data about each DPO, such as their –  

  • Name 

  • Address 

  • Phone number 

  • Email address,  

  • Some brief informat5ion about them, and 

  • Website.  

There are four colours for the flags as follows – 

  • Yellow = Intersectional DPOs 

  • Purple = Classic pan impairment DPOs 

  • Green = Impairment-specific DPOs 

  • Blue = Activity-specific DPOs. 

If you know of any DPOs which are not on this map please let Theo know and he will put them on there –  

theo@disabilitycornwall.org.uk 

 

 **Source:Research (disabilitycornwall.org.uk)

 

How disabled people’s user led organisations (DPULOs) can help disabled people and how to contact them.

Disabled people’s user led organisations (DPULOs) are run by and for disabled people.

DPULOs have an important role in:

  • providing peer support in areas such as social care, financial services, employment and volunteering

  • changing perceptions

  • enabling disabled people to have a stronger voice in the local community

They provide advice on a wide range of topics to all disabled people, whatever their impairment.

 

4SIGHT enquiries@4sight.org.uk www.4sight.org.uk
A4U : Action Advice Advocacy advice@a4u.org.uk www.a4u.org.uk
Ability Action CIC peterm@aacic.org.uk www.aacic.org.uk
Access Dorset info@accessdorset.org.uk www.accessdorset.org.uk
Action and Rights of Disabled People in Newham actionandrights@btconnect.com
Action for Deafness info@actionfordeafness.org.uk www.actionfordeafness.org.uk
Action on Disability and Work UK advice@adwuk.org www.adwuk.org
Active Indpendence info@activeindepence.org www.activeindependence.org
All Inclusive Disability Consultants CIC hello@allinclusivecic.com www.allinclusivecic.com
Alliance for Inclusive Education info@allfie.org.uk www.allfie.org.uk
Angel Eyes NI info@angeleyesni.org www.angeleyesni.org
Arbroath COPD Group kathy@wideopenspace.co.uk
ASPIE Ltd admin@wits-endweb.co.uk www.aspieeverywhere.org.uk
assist-Mi hello@assist-mi.com www.assist-mi.com
Atebion Cymru rjones@accessiblewales.co.uk www.accessible-news.co.uk
Ayrshire Independent Living Network mail@ailn.org www.ailn.org
Barnet Centre for Independent Living info@barnetcil.org.uk http://barnetcil.org.uk/
Being the Boss mail@beingtheboss.co.uk www.beingtheboss.co.uk
Bipolar UK info@bipolaruk.org.uk www.bipolaruk.org.uk
Blind Life In Durham blindlifeindurham@gmail.com www.blindlifeindurham.org.uk
Blyth Valley Disabled Forum enquiries@bvdfadvice.f9.co.uk blythdisabledforum.co.uk
Bognor and Chichester Voice Bcvoice.chi@btinternet.com
Bradford and Airedale Mental Health Advocacy Group info@bamhag.co.uk www.bamhag.org.uk
Bradford People First office@bradfordpeoplefirst.org.uk www.bradfordpeoplefirst.org.uk
Breakthrough UK Ltd admin@breakthrough-uk.co.uk www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
Brighton Adult ADHD Support Group mail@adhdbrighton.org.uk www.adhdbrighton.org.uk
Bristol Disability Equality Forum bristoldef@gmail.com www.bristoldef.org.uk
British Deaf Association bda@bda.org.uk www.bda.org.uk
Bromley Experts By Experience info@xbyxbromley.com www.xbyxbromley.com
Buckinghamshire Disability Services info@buds.org.uk www.buds.org.uk
Bury People First admin@burypeoplefirst.co.uk www.burypeoplefirst.co.uk
Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living info@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk www.cambridgeshirealliance.org
Camden People First info@camdenpeoplefirst.co.uk www.camdenpeoplefirst.org.uk
Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness (CamTAD) Southern Derbyshire camtad@camtad.org www.camtad.org
Canterbury and District Mental Health Forum hello@cadmhf.org.uk www.cadmhf.org.uk
Centre For Inclusive Living Perth and Kinross info@cilpk.org.uk www.cilpk.org.uk
Centre for Independent Living Kent cilkent@aol.com www.cilk.org.uk
Centre for Independent Living NI info@cilni.org www.cilni.org
CHANGE info@changepeople.org www.changepeople.org
Cherry Orchard Garden Services CIC cogsgardening@btconnect.com www.cherryorchardgardenservices.co.uk
Cheshire Centre for Independent Living office@cheshirecil.org www.cheshirecil.org
Choices and Rights Disability Coalition office@choicesandrights.org.uk www.choicesandrights.org.uk
Citizen Leaders CIC info@citizenleaders.org www.citizenleaders.org
CMT United Kingdom info@cmtuk.org.uk www.cmt.org.uk
Community Health Action Trust (CHAT) William@chatrust.com www.chatrust.com
Community Housing And Support Network mturner@myhomemysay.co.uk www.myhomemysay.co.uk
Compass Disability Services Info@compassdisability.org.uk www.compassdisability.org.uk
Connect in the North info@citn.org.uk www.citn.org.uk
CoolTan Arts info@cooltanarts.org.uk www.cooltanarts.org.uk
Cornwall People First contact@cornwallpeoplefirst.com www.cornwallpeoplefirst.com
Croydon People First info@croydonpeoplefirst.org.uk www.croydonpeoplefirst.org.uk
DaDaFest annw@dadafest.co.uk www.dadafest.co.uk
Daisy Inclusive UK info@daisyuk.com www.daisyuk.com
Deaf Cultural Outreach Group (DeafCOG) Info@deafprosussex.co.uk
Info@deafcog.co.uk
www.deafprosussex.co.uk                                            www.deafcog.co.uk
Deaf Parenting UK Info@Deafparent.Org.UK www.Deafparent.Org.UK
Deafblind Scotland drena@deafblindscotland.org.uk www.deafblindscotland.org.uk
Derbyshire Voice info@derbsyhire@voice.co.uk www.derbyshirevoice.co.uk
Devon Link Up referralsdlup@gmail.com www.devonlink-up.org
DIAL Barnsley firstcontact@dialbarnsley.org.uk www.dialbarnsley.org.uk
DIAL Basildon & South Essex enquiries@dialbasildon.co.uk www.dialbasildon.co.uk
DIAL Doncaster advice@dialdoncaster.co.uk www.dialdoncaster.co.uk
Dial South Worcestershire mail@dialsworcs.org.uk www.dialsworcs.org.uk
Dial Southend vicechairman@dialsouthend.org www.dialsouthend.org
DIAL West Cheshire contactus@dialwestcheshire.org.uk www.dialwestcheshire.org.uk
Dial Wood Carriage Driving for the Disabled audrey.honeyman@virgin.net www.dialwood.btck.co.uk
Digital Express harryreid53@gmail.com
Direct Payments Service Users Limited support@dipsu.co.uk www.dipsu.co.uk
Disability Action in Islington (DAII) disabilityaction@daii.org www.daii.org
Disability Action Northern Ireland hq@disabilityaction.org www.disabilityaction.org
Disability Action Wyre Forest disabilityactionwf@hotmail.com www.disabilityactionwf1.co.uk
Disability Advice Service Lambeth (DASL) Enquiry.line@disabilitylambeth.org.uk www.disabilitylambeth.org.uk
Disability Arts Online Ltd (DAO) editor@disabilityartsonline.org.uk www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk
Disability Awareness Group alisterdag@gmail.com www.clacksdag.org.uk
Disability Backup Hackney helen.w@disabilitybackup.org.uk http://www.disabilitybackup.org.uk
Disability Can Do Organisation admin@disabilitycando.org.uk www.disabilitycando.org.uk
Disability Cornwall & Isles of Scilly info@disabilitycornwall.org.uk www.disabilitycornwall.org.uk
Disability Direct Info@disabilitydirect.com www.disabilitydirect.com
Disability Equality (NW) Ltd hello@disability-equality.org.uk www.disability-equality.org.uk
Disability Nottinghamshire advice@disabilitynottinghamshire.org.uk www.disabilitynottinghamshire.org.uk
Disability Online info@disabilityonline.org.uk www.disabilityonline.org.uk
Disability Peterborough dialpeterborough@btconnect.com www.dialpeterborough.co.uk
Disability Resource Centre info@disability.co.uk www.disability.co.uk
Disability Sheffield Centre for Independent Living info@disabilitysheffield.org.uk www.disabilitysheffield.org.uk
Disability Stockport email@disabilitystockport.org.uk www.disabilitystockport.org.uk
Disabled Golf Association info@disabledgolfassociation.co.UK www.disabledgolfassociation.co.uk
Disabled Motoring UK info@disabledmotoring.org www.disabledmotoring.org
Disabled People’s Voice Hampshire info@dpvh.org.uk www.dpvh.org.uk
Disabled Responsible Organised People (DROP) queries@drop-associates.org.uk www.drop-associates.org.uk
Disabled Workers Co-operative admin@disabledworkers.org.uk www.disabledworkers.org.uk
Disablement Association Hillingdon info@dash.org.uk www.dash.org.uk
Diversity and Ability mail@dnamatters.co.uk www.dnamatters.co.uk
DOTS Disability info@dotsdisability.co.uk Dotsdisability.co.uk
Double Act Disability Theatre Company doubleact@accessdorset.org.uk www.doubleacttheatre.org.uk
East Lancashire Deaf Society (ELDS) info@elds.org.uk www.elds.org.uk
East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) info@esda.org.uk www.esda.org.uk
ecdp info@ecdp.org.uk www.ecdp.org.uk
Enable in Cornwall Ltd enquiries@enableincornwall.co.uk www.enableincornwall.co.uk
Encompass admin@encompassborders.com www.encompassborders.com
Enfield Disability Action eda@e-d-a.org.uk www.eda.org.uk
Equal Arts douglas@equalarts.org.uk www.equalarts.org.uk
Equal Lives info@equallives.org.uk                              communications@equallives.org.uk www.equallives.org.uk
Eye Wish Access CIC info@eyewishaccess.co.uk www.eyewishaccess.co.uk
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living gcil@gcil.org.uk www.gcil.org.uk
Glasgow Disability Alliance info@gdaonline.co.uk www.gdaonline.co.uk
Grampian Opportunities info@grampianopportunities.org.uk www.grampianopportunities.org.uk
Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) info@gmcdp.com www.gmcdp.com
Greenwich Association of Disabled People info@gad.org.uk www.gad.org.uk
Hackney People First peoplefirsthackney@btconnect.com www.hackneypeoplefirst.com
Halton Disability Partnership davidatkinson@haltondisabiltiy.org.uk www.haltondisability.org.uk
Hao2.eu info@hao2.eu www.hao2.eu
Havant Area Disability Access Group info@hadag.org.uk
Hearing Loss Cornwall info@hearinglosscornwall.org www.hearinglosscornwall.org
Herts People First admin@northhertspeoplefirst.com
Ideal for All Info@idealforall.co.uk www.idealforall.co.uk
Impact MH enquiries@impactmh.org.uk www.impactmh.org.uk
Inclusion London info@inclusionlondon.co.uk www.inclusionlondon.co.uk                         www.powerupproject.org.uk
Inclusion Scotland info@inclusionscotland.org http://www.inclusionscotland.org
Incontrol-able CIC info@incontrol-able.co.uk www.incontrol-able.co.uk
Independent Lives info@independentlives.org www.independentlives.org
Independent Living Alternatives PAServices@ILAnet.co.uk www.ILAnet.co.uk
Kidz Aware Gillian@kidzaware.co.uk www.kidzaware.co.uk
Kingston Centre for Independent Living enquiries@kcil.org.uk www.kcil.org.uk
Kirklees Visual Impairment Network quarmby@ntlworld.com www.kvin.org.uk
www.tail.org.uk
Launchpad launchpadncl@aol.com www.launchpadncl.org.uk
Leeds Centre for Integrated Living info@leedscil.org.uk www.leedscil.org.uk
Leeds Mind leeds.mind@leedsmind.org.uk www.leedsmind.org.uk
Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service Survivor.led@lslcs.org.uk www.lslcs.org.uk
Lincolnshire Independent Living admin@lincolnshireindependentliving.org.uk  http://lincolnshireindependentliving.org.uk/
Listen not Label admin@listennotlabel.org.uk www.Listen-not-label.org
Living Options Devon info@livingoptions.org www.livingoptions.org
Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL) lcil@lothiancil.org.uk www.lothiancil.org.uk
Manchester Deaf Centre admin@manchesterdeafcentre.com www.manchesterdeafcentre.com
Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group admin@mdpag.org.uk www.mdpag.org.uk
Manchester People First mcrpeoplefirst@googlemail.com www.manpf.org
Mental Health North East (MHNE) admin@email.co.uk www.mhne.org.uk
Mercian Ability Partnership info@mercian-ability.org.uk Mercian-ability.org.uk
Merseyside Disability Federation info@merseydisability.org.uk www.merseydisability.org.uk
Merton Centre for Independent Living (Merton CIL) info@mertoncil.org.uk www.mertoncil.org.uk
Mosaic: shaping disability services enquiries@mosaic1898.co.uk www.mosaic1898.co.uk
Moving On With PACTT Ltd pactt@mail.com
MySupportBroker enquiry@mysupportbroker.com www.mysupportbroker.com
Newcastle Disability Forum enquiries@ndf.org.uk www.ndf.org.uk
Norfolk Association for the Disabled norfolkdisabled@talktalkbusiness.net
North Staffs Users Group mainoffice@nsug.co.uk www.nsug.co.uk
North Tyneside Disability Forum info@ntdf.co.uk www.ntdf.co.uk
North West Forum of People with Disabilities
North Worcestershire Dial admin@nwdial.org.uk www.nwdial.org.uk
North Yorkshire Centre for Independent Living (NYCIL) julie@nycil.org.uk www.nycil.org.uk
One Voice one-voice@btconnect.com www.onevoicedisabilityservices.org.uk
Our Vision Our Future ourvision_ourfuture@yahoo.co.uk
People Come First pcfhorsham@gmail.com
People First (Scotland) peoplefirst1@btconnect.com www.peoplefirstscotland.org
People First (Self Advocacy) peoplefirstltd@gmail.com www.peoplefirstltd.com
People First Keighley & Craven info@peoplefirstkc.co.uk www.peoplefirstkc.co.uk
PRO Disability (Poole Rights Organisation on Disability) info@prodisability.org.uk www.prodisability.org.uk
Project SWAP CIC office@projectswap.co.uk www.projectswap.co.uk
Pukar Disability Centre younus.khan@pukar.org.uk www.pukar.org.uk
Redcar Real Opportunity Centre redcarroc@btconnect.com www.redcarroc.org.uk
Richmond AID l.byrne@richmondaid.org.uk www.richmondaid.org.uk
Rotherham Deaf Futures info@rotherfed.org http://www.rotherfed.org.uk/communities-of-interest/tara-for-profoundly-deaf
RUILS info@ruils.co.uk www.ruils.co.uk
Salford Disability Forum office@salforddisabilityforum.co.uk www.salforddisabilityforum.co.uk
Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance secretary@scottishaccessibletransport.org.uk www. scottishaccessibletransport.org.uk
Scottish Disability Golf Partnership sdgp@btinternet.com www.sdgp.org.uk
Services for Independent Living contactus@s4il.co.uk www.s4il.co.uk
Shaping Our Lives information@shapingourlives.org.uk www.shapingourlives.org.uk
Shopmobility Lochaber SCIO shopmobility1@madasafish.com www.shopmobilitylochaber.org.uk
Skills for People information@skillsforpeople.org.uk www.skillsforpeople.org.uk
South Yorkshire Centre for Inclusive Living admin@sycil.org www.sycil.org
Southwark Disablement Association sda@sdail.org www.sdail.org
Speakup Self Advocacy Ltd team@speakup.org.uk www.speakup.org.uk
SPECTRUM Centre for Independent
Living CIC
info@spectrumcil.co.uk www.spectrumcil.co.uk
Spinal Injuries Association sia@spinal.co.uk www.spinal.co.uk
Suffolk Coalition of Disabled People enquiries@scodp.org.uk www.scodp.org.uk
Suffolk User Forum Suf.mh@nsft.nhs.uk www.suffolkuserforum.co.uk
Surrey Coalition of Disabled People info@surreycolaliton.org.uk www.surreycoalition.org.uk
Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership home@sdpp.org.uk www.sdpp.org.uk
Surrey Independent Living Council admin@surreyilc.org.uk www.surreyilc.org.uk
The Disability Advice Project info@dapwales.org.uk www.dapwales.org.uk
The Omnibus Partnership omninc@mac.com
The Rowan Organisation info@therowan.org www.therowan.org
Together! 2012 CIC info@together2012.org.uk www.together2012.org.uk
Trafford Centre for Independent Living hello@traffordcil.co.uk www.traffordcil.co.uk
Universal Comedy enquiries@universalcomedy.co.uk www.universalcomedy.co.uk
Vale People First liz.davidson@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk www.valepeoplefirst.org.uk
Vision Sense info@visionsense.co.uk www.visionsense.co.uk
Warrington Disability Partnership info@disabilitypartnership.org.uk www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk
West of England Centre for Inclusive Living reception@wecil.co.uk www.wecil.co.uk
Weston and North Somerset DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line) mail@westondial.co.uk www.westondial.co.uk
Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK) info@wdsauk.co.uk www.wdsauk.co.uk
Whitby, Scarborough & Ryedale Disability Action Group info@whitbydag.org.uk www.whitbydag.org.uk
Wigan & Leigh People First info@wlpf.org.uk www.wlpf.org.uk
Wiltshire and Swindon Users’ Network info.wsun@btconnect.com www.wsun.co.uk
Wiltshire Centre For Independent Living info@wiltshirecil.org.uk www.wiltshirecil.org.uk
Wiltshire People 1st angie@wiltshirepeople1st.org.uk www.wiltshirepeople1st.org.uk
Wish info@womenatwish.org.uk www.womenatwish.org.uk
Worthing SpeakAbout worthingspeakabout@gmail.com

 

**** Source:Disabled people – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

We are a small charity who run the website within our team. Any information we share, we share via cross posting and fair usage as it is information already in the public domain. Is something missing or incorrect? Let us know over on CONTACT US