All people deserve access to clear, accurate information about disability—framed by disabled people's expertise and grounded in rights-based frameworks. This section provides the essential concepts, language, and models that shape the entire wiki.
How we understand disability shapes everything: policy, healthcare, education, employment, relationships, and self-perception. Many disabled people encounter conflicting definitions, outdated terminology, and frameworks that treat disability as tragedy or burden. This section offers alternatives grounded in disabled people's own knowledge and organizing.
Whether you're newly disabled, supporting someone who is, researching for professional work, or deepening your understanding, these pages build shared vocabulary and explain why frameworks matter.
Your starting point. Learn how to navigate this resource, what accessibility features are available, and community guidelines for this space.
Practical guidance on navigating the wiki, using search, finding information for your region, and accessibility options including screen reader mode and high contrast viewing.
Explore different definitions of disability across cultures, legal systems, and communities. Disability as identity, lived experience, social position, and collective culture.
Understand the major frameworks for thinking about disability: Medical Model, Social Model, Biopsychosocial Model, Human Rights Model, Disability Justice, Neurodiversity Paradigm, and Independent Living Philosophy.
Learn why language matters. Covers identity-first vs. person-first language, terms to avoid, culturally specific language from Deaf, Autistic, AAC-using, and Mad communities, and how language reflects power and autonomy.
Disability is not just a medical condition—it's a culture. Explore disability arts, community traditions, online and offline cultures, collective history, symbols, and what disability pride means.
If you're supporting disabled people, learn how to listen, advocate, and avoid common mistakes. Covers etiquette, microaggressions, how to intervene against ableism, and supporting autonomy over pity.
I'm newly disabled and feeling overwhelmed
Start with What Is Disability? and Language, Terminology & Identity
I want to support a disabled person
Read For Allies and Disability Culture
I need to understand different frameworks
Go to Disability Models
I'm not sure what language to use
Check Language, Terminology & Identity
Screen reader friendly: Clear heading hierarchy, descriptive link text, no reliance on visual layout alone.
Neurodivergent-friendly: Sections broken into manageable chunks, plain language throughout, bullet points for quick scanning where appropriate.
Plain language: Complex concepts explained without jargon. Where technical terms are necessary, they're defined on first use.
Low-sensory options: High contrast mode available. Pages avoid flashing content, auto-playing media, or sudden sounds.
Have lived experience or expertise that could strengthen these pages? We welcome contributions from disabled people, especially from communities underrepresented in mainstream disability discourse.
This page centers disabled people's expertise and is informed by disabled-led organizing globally. For questions or to suggest additions, see How to Contribute.
Last updated: November 2025