This academic text examines the sociological shift from viewing disability as a "personal tragedy" to understanding it as a product of social oppression. Historically, the "individual model" relied on medical definitions that labeled people with impairments as "defective," leading to segregation and professional dominance. In contrast, the "social model" argues that disabling barriers—such as inaccessible architecture, discriminatory policies, and cultural stereotypes—are what truly marginalize individuals. The authors analyze how this exclusion manifests across employment, education, and the built environment, while highlighting how disability intersects with gender and race. Ultimately, the source explores the tension between managing physical impairment and dismantling the systemic structures that create social disablement.