The term disability has evolved within sport psychology
from equating to a personal tragedy resulting from a physical or mental impairment, to being understood
as a form of social oppression that negatively
impacts upon the lives of disabled athletes (e.g., Smith,
Bundon, & Best, 2016). Historically, disability is
defined by the medical model as any lack of ability to
perform a task considered ‘normal’ for any person due
to impairment (Goodley, 2016). The medical model
therefore positions disability as a physical tragedy or
psychological trauma that should be overcome, and
locates the problem of disability within the individual.
Accordingly, any social factors that contribute to the
experience of disability are overlooked by this model.
To address the limitations of the medical model, a
social model of disability was proposed that shone light
on the social and cultural meaning of disability. The
social model rejects the causal link between impairment
and disability, and instead asserts that disability results
from the social restrictions (e.g., barriers) imposed
upon people with impairment (Thomas, 2007). A key
strength of the social model was its impressive political
power as it influenced antidiscrimination legislation.
Yet, the social model creates a dualism by conceptually
separating impairment from disability and excludes the
body from understandings of disability. A focus on barrier
removal also fails to address underlying disablist
values and institutional structures within society.
Building on the social model, the social relational
model proposes that people with impairments experience
disablism—a form of social oppression—that
restricts activity and harms psycho-emotional wellbeing.
A social relational approach also acknowledges
impairment effects—direct or immediate impacts and
effects of impairments—on the lives of disabled people
(Thomas, 2007). This conceptual understanding of disability
contends that disabled people live lives shaped
by impairment and the effects of disabling and discriminatory
cultural, social, and environmental conditions
that impede social participation and damages wellbeing.
