What shift has occurred regarding disability?

• A. Viewing individuals as subjects of human rights rather than objects of care
• B. Seeing them as medical patients only
• C. Treating disability as a private matter
• D. Ignoring disability in policy

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that disability is increasingly understood as a human rights issue and a matter of social inclusion, not just a medical condition to be treated. This shift follows the social/rights-based perspective, which holds that barriers in society—such as inaccessible buildings, biased attitudes, and policies that exclude—create disability, not the impairment alone. When people with disabilities are viewed as holders of rights, policies emphasize accessibility, equal protection under the law, and reasonable accommodations in education, employment, and public life. This stands in contrast to seeing disability only as a medical problem, a private matter, or something to be ignored in policy, all of which undermine opportunity and inclusion. In practice, the shift supports laws and international agreements that promote full participation and equal rights for individuals with disabilities.