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 –
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A majority of disabled people (51% at least) on its board or governing committee (or working towards this),
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A majority of staff and volunteers (51% at least) are disabled people (or working towards this), and
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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 –
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Name
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Address
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Phone number
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Email address,
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Some brief informat5ion about them, and
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Website.
There are four colours for the flags as follows –
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Yellow = Intersectional DPOs
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Purple = Classic pan impairment DPOs
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Green = Impairment-specific DPOs
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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:
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providing peer support in areas such as social care, financial services, employment and volunteering
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changing perceptions
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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)
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