New blog explores disability, inclusion and the lasting impat of the DDA

In this new Housing LIN guest blog, Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapist and Fellow at the University of Worcester, explores the social model of disability and the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Reflecting on her early training rooted in the medical model, Sheehan recounts how Michael Oliver’s Politics of Disablement shifted her perspective toward understanding societal barriers.

She highlights the DDA’s significance in defining disability and protecting against discrimination in areas like employment, education, and transport. Yet, she stresses that in 2025, disabled people still face exclusion, particularly in housing and public spaces, urging society to actively confront ongoing discrimination.