OBJECTIVES: Disability is a term that compares actual ability to normal functioning, often referring to impairments such as physical, sensory, cognitive or intellectual. Traditionally, interventions for individuals with disability are influenced by how disability is perceived by the society and professionals, which could either be based on the social or medical model. Neither model used alone is effective to improve the health outcomes of these individuals holistically. This study examined the various ways in which disability is perceived in the society.

METHODS: Literature review was used looking at relevant journal articles and google search to examine medical and social model of disability, attitude of the public towards people with disability and how these individuals are treated in the society was critically assessed. Medical and social model of disability were used as the search term.

RESULTS: Perceptions about disability most times determine how they relate to or treat individuals with disability. In addition, a large part of the population has negative attitudes towards people with disability, underpinned by lack of understanding about the needs of people with disability. Also, results showed that there is need to include what it is like to be a disabled person by treating the experiences and views of people with disabilities as valid, relevant and significant as opinions of Medical and Social experts.

CONCLUSIONS: People with disability should be treated better by the society, this can be achieved through educating the public about disability. Good understanding of the social and medical model of disability may help to facilitate resource allocation to improve the health outcomes of individuals with disability through access to holistic intervention. Future studies on disability should assess professional perception of disability and the combined use of medical and social models; this research should include people with disability, to having their voice represented.