Disability should be interpreted in broad terms as many people in society still deeply misunderstood this term. For many, disability is about wheelchairs or white sticks or hearing aids but in actual fact the subject is so much broader in depth and importance and must take into account the causes which lie behind disabled people being segregated from the conventional society.

The term disability has nothing to do with physical impairment. Disability is defined as an inability to perform work. In general, disability includes physical impairments, sensory impairments, psychiatric conditions and cognitive impairments. It is widely accepted that people with disability generally have fewer opportunities and lower quality of life than non-disabled people. The medical model of disability encourages explanations in terms of the features of an individual’s body. Under this model of disability, disabled people's inability to join in society is seen as a direct result of having impairment and not as the result of features of the society which can be changed. Where as the social model of disability makes an important distinction between disability and impairment. Under this model, disability is seen as a social construction than a medical reality.

The language and terminology often used with disability reflect the attitudes and beliefs of disabled persons. The controversy over terminology refers to the unduly arrow interpretations and in some cases derogatory connotation of the terms to refer to persons with disabilities. While the term disability and handicap may be used interchangeably it can be described that the word handicap is used to depict those economic and social consequences of disability. Handicap has been defined as an obstacle which society imposes on a person with a disability. Handicapped is not a term to describe human beings. People First Movement seeks to put the person first and the disability second. People with disabilities are people first, and foremost. History tells us it takes one generation between time and idea before it is actually incorporated into our society. While some people support the People First language movement others do not. Disabled people who are members of a specific group tend to reject efforts designed to distance them from the fact of their identity.

Many organizations have adopted human rights approach for disabled person. In fact in 2000, the United Nations decided to start working on a comprehensive convention for the rights of disabled people. And although people with disabilities have often been isolated from the society, there are still many disabled people who have contributed to society. They may be disabled but they sure have helped make an important part of history.