There are two main models of disability: the medical model and the social model. The disability rights movement and disability studies have been mainly driven by the latter.
When I leave my home, I do not think about my basic human right to enter and exit the places I visit or my ability to find a washroom that meets my needs. My friend Larry from Providence, Rhode Island cannot be so carefree. He navigates in a wheelchair and drives a van using hand controls. When he and his wife Lis came to Montreal last year, my priority, and ultimately my greatest challenge in planning their visit, was accessibility.
It’s no secret that the fashion industry has historically been incredibly ableist. Very few visually disabled people have been showcased in magazines, campaigns or TV commercials. We are now witnessing change in this industry, with the movement growing in our current century. Inclusiveness of models with a visible disability slowly on the rise.
