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AbstractThere is a wealth of evidence that disabled people experience far higher levels of unemployment and underemployment than non‐disabled peers. Yet hitherto sociologists have paid scant attention to the structural causes of this issue. Drawing on a socio/political or social model of disability perspective this paper argues for a reconfiguration of the meaning of disability and work in order to address this problem. It is also suggested that such a strategy will make a significant contribution to the struggle for a fairer and equitable global society.

This paper will address recent debates surrounding the nature and cause of the complex process of disablement and their relevance to understanding calls for a universally accessible physical and cultural environment. It is divided into three main sections. The first part will explore changing perceptions of disability. Attention will centre on the traditional individualistic medical approach, the socio-political understanding or 'social model of disability' and the recent 'biopsychosocial' model of disability exemplified by the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This will be followed by a discussion of the usefulness of the concept of 'universal design'. The final section will discuss the significance of these developments in light of globalisation, associate economic, political and social crises, and the struggle for a fairer and just global society. ; Peer Reviewed

This paper will address recent debates surrounding the nature and cause of the complex process of disablement and their relevance to understanding calls for a universally accessible physical and cultural environment. It is divided into three main sections. The first part will explore changing perceptions of disability. Attention will centre on the traditional individualistic medical approach, the socio-political understanding or 'social model of disability' and the recent 'biopsychosocial' model of disability exemplified by the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This will be followed by a discussion of the usefulness of the concept of 'universal design'. The final section will discuss the significance of these developments in light of globalisation, associate economic, political and social crises, and the struggle for a fairer and just global society.

This paper will address recent debates surrounding the nature and cause of the complex process of disablement and their relevance to understanding calls for a universally accessible physical and cultural environment. It is divided into three main sections. The first part will explore changing perceptions of disability. Attention will centre on the traditional individualistic medical approach, the socio-political understanding or 'social model of disability' and the recent 'biopsychosocial' model of disability exemplified by the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This will be followed by a discussion of the usefulness of the concept of 'universal design'. The final section will discuss the significance of these developments in light of globalisation, associate economic, political and social crises, and the struggle for a fairer and just global society. ; Peer Reviewed

Following recent developments in the theoretical and general understanding of disability and social policy, this article addresses the complex and changing relationship between the 'social model of disability', work and politics. It is suggested that within a social model framework, the conceptualizations of disability and work are interdependent, that recent policy developments in the employment field are likely to have only a marginal effect on the employment problems encountered by disabled people, that meaningful change is possible only through a radical reformulation of the meaning of work and that the foundations for this reformulation have already been put in place.