Disability studies

Disability studies is an academic discipline that examines the meaning, nature, and consequences of disability. Initially, the field focused on the division between "impairment" and "disability", where impairment was an impairment of an individual's mind or body, while disability was considered a social construct.^[1] This premise gave rise to two distinct models of disability: the social and medical models of disability. In 1999 the social model was universally accepted as the model preferred by the field.^[2]

However, in recent years, the division between the social and medical models has been challenged.^[1][3] Alternative models of disability have proliferated, allowing for greater complexity and specificity in how disability is theorized].^[4][5] Additionally, there has been an increased focus on interdisciplinary research.^[6] For example, recent investigations suggest using "cross-sectional markers of stratification"^[7] may help provide new insights on the non-random distribution of risk factors capable of exacerbating disablement processes. Such risk factors can be acute or chronic stressors, which can increase cumulative risk factors (overeating, excessive drinking, etc.) The decline of immune function with age and decrease of inter-personal relationships which can impact cognitive function with age.^[8]

Disability studies courses include work in disability history, theory, legislation, policy, ethics, and the arts. However, students are taught to focus on the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities in practical terms. The field is focused on increasing individuals with disabilities access to civil rights and improving their quality of life.^[9]

Disability studies emerged in the 1980s primarily in the US, the UK, and Canada. In 1986, the Section for the Study of Chronic Illness, Impairment, and Disability of the Social Science Association (United States) was renamed the Society for Disability Studies.^[10] The first US disabilities studies program emerged in 1994 at Syracuse University.^[9] The first edition of the Disabilities Studies Reader (one of the first collections of academic papers related to disability studies) was published in 1997.^[11] The field grew rapidly over the next ten years. In 2005, the Modern Language Association established disability studies as a "division of study".^[9]

While disability studies primarily emerged in the US, the UK, and Canada, disability studies were also conducted in other countries through different lenses. For instance, Germany has been involved with queer disability studies since the beginning of the early 20th century. The disability studies in Germany are influenced by the written literary works of feminist sexologists who study how being disabled affects one's sexuality and ability to feel pleasure. In Norway, disability studies are focused on the literary context.^[12]

A variation emerged in 2017 with the first accessibility studies program at Central Washington University with an interdisciplinary focus on social justice, universal design, and international Web Accessibility Guidelines (WAG3) as a general education knowledge base.^[13]