Contradictions between disability theory and disability policy and programs

Introduction: The intensive development of disability theories and disability policies during the past 50 years prompts an assessment of their current relationships. Method: Major disability theories/frameworks and disability policies in USA and abroad were analyzed to assess their relationships and identify contradictions. Results: The following contradictions were noted. 1) Disability is part of a continuous range of functioning in frameworks such as ICF, yet it is a binary concept (disabled or not disabled) in policies such as the ADA ; 2) In current disability theory disability is produced by an interaction between person and environment, yet disability policy is still predominantly oriented to interventions addressing the person; 3) Current disability theory highlights autonomy and self-determination of persons with disabilities, while disability policy and programs tend to maintain professional domination; 4) disability policies provide several benefits to persons with disabilities while disability theories seldom deals with advantages of having a disability; 5) disability policies tend to rely upon judgment of professional experts while disability theories emphasize the unique perspective of persons with disabilities; 6) disability policy addresses in general the disability status, while disability theory points to the inseparability of disability, socio-economic condition and culture. Discussion/conclusions: Three pathways to resolution of the contradictions are explored. They are 1) translation of the “real world” approach of disability policy into disability theory; 2) translation of new disability concepts into disability policy to replace or modify traditional modes of thinking; and 3) formulation of new concepts that resolve current contradictions.