Which statement best describes the medical model?

• A. Disability is created by environmental barriers.
• B. Disability is a consequence of a health condition.
• C. Disability is defined by inability to perform functional activities.
• D. Disability is a social construct.

Answer: (B)

The medical model treats disability as a consequence of a health condition or impairment in the person. The focus is on diagnosing and treating the health issue to reduce the disability and improve function. This makes the statement about disability arising from a health condition the best description. The other views align with different perspectives: attributing disability to environmental barriers reflects the social model; defining disability by an inability to perform functional activities emphasizes functional limitations but not the health-based cause; and calling disability a social construct aligns with the social or critical models.