Shifting the discourse on disability: Moving to an inclusive, intersectional focus

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Disability is a major marginalized group facing health care barriers in the US.
• Traditional medical models of disability are limited and fail to address intersectionality.
• Existing models neglect how intersecting oppressions (e.g., racism, sexism) worsen health inequities for disabled individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a disability-affirmative, intersectional approach within psychology.
• To challenge and reform oppressive systems impacting individuals with disabilities.
• To enhance equitable and inclusive mental health care access.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of disability models and intersectionality.
• Literature review on disability, identity, and health inequities.
• Proposal of actionable steps for psychologists in research, practice, training, and policy.

Main Results:

• Current models inadequately address the intersection of disability with other marginalized identities.
• An intersectional lens is crucial for understanding and mitigating health disparities.
• A disability-affirmative approach can guide reforms in psychology.

Conclusions:

• Adopting a disability-affirmative, intersectional framework is essential for psychological practice and research.
• This approach can lead to more equitable and inclusive mental health care.
• Actionable steps are proposed for psychologists to implement this framework across various domains.