Back to Blog Page
Attitude & Inclusion

Disabled person vs. person with… The debate continues

Esi Hardy
Esi Hardy | | 2 min read
Disabled person vs. person with… The debate continues
Esi Hardy

Esi Hardy

Esi (rhymes with messy) set up Celebrating Disability in 2017; offering training, consulting and auditing to support businesses attract, engage and retain disabled people. Having the opportunity to support businesses to see the wealth of benefits that disabled people can bring to business, either as customers or employees is a privilege. She is passionate about disability equality and inclusion and loves nothing more than that "Ah ha" moment with a client when they see what disability equality and inclusion can do for them.

The Context

Over the last few months and throughout my career, there have been many conversations about whether the term “disabled people” should be utilised over the term “people with disabilities”.

Whilst this is a personal choice, most people don’t fully appreciate the differentiation between the two. They therefore believe that it is just a turn of phrase and supports the construction of a sentence.  So, I’ve decided to write an article to put some context to each term.

The social vs medical model of disability

The social model of disability states that disabled people are only disabled because society constructs barriers to prevent complete inclusion. For example;

  • The lack of step free access could prevent a physically disabled person entering a building

  • The lack of access on public transport,​

  • Disproportionate amounts of accessible accommodation for disabled people

  • The lack of fully thought out integration in education meaning disabled people are disempowered at an early age 

So the social model states that in order to compensate for that society needs to change in order for the world to be more equal for disabled people.  The medical model, in direct comparison states; that it is the problem of the disabled individual alone. The impairment is a “problem” that needs to be solved.

However, without the medical model there cannot be a social model: in order for us to recognise that there is a problem surrounding equality and inclusion, we must recognise the impairment.

Back to the debate

Do we use the term disabled person, or do we stick to a more traditional, perhaps outdated term; person with a disability? For those people who still might think that it is just a phrase in a context, try this:

Thinking back to the social model: We said that the social model of disability believes that it is society that stops disabled people from fully participating. If we use the term disabled person in the same light we are recognising through language that the only disability are the barriers constructed within society. “Person with disability” suggests nothing needs to change.

As usual, share your thoughts by getting in touch. Talk to us about how your business can engage disabled people through language.

Aftermath of a celebration with scattered confetti, an empty bottle, a glass, and a pair of high heels on a white surface.
Disability Training Employing Disabled People

Disability Awareness Week Celebrations Are Over: What Next?

Every year, we observe Disability Awareness Day (26th July), Disability History Month (14th November to 20thDecember), Disability Pride Month (throughout July), Inclusion...
By Esi Hardy | 28 July 2025 | 7 min read
Five gold stars arching over a green check mark inside a black circle, representing a successful and effective training session that makes an impact.
Attitude & Inclusion Disability Training

How To Write A Training Session That Makes An Impact

How many times have you attended or hosted a training session and walked away unable to articulate the outcome? If...
By Esi Hardy | 17 June 2025 | 8 min read
Title reads “Disability History – Past, Present & Future” beside an image of a wheelchair user waiting to board an accessible yellow bus.
Attitude & Inclusion

Disability History –  Past, Present & Future

Introduction Did you know that Celebrating Disability is based on the legacy of the disability movement and disability rights in...
By Amy Worgan | 29 May 2025 | 9 min read

Let’s Talk About Inclusion

We’d love to hear from you.

Start a Conversation
Celebrating Disability
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.