Disability inclusion faces gap between legal rights and cultural reality

While the term ‘inclusion’ has become a consensus in political and institutional discourse, a gap remains between legal rights and cultural reality for people with disabilities. Although the United Nations Convention shifted the perspective of disability from charity to citizenship, true equality is often hindered by physical, technological, educational, and cultural barriers.

Drawing on the theories of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, the discussion highlights that equality requires real capabilities and the conditions to participate fully in society. Moving from a medical model, which focuses on correcting bodily limitations, to a social model, which views disability as the interaction between functional diversity and an unaccommodating environment, is essential for genuine participation.

In the labor market, despite qualifications and experience, individuals with disabilities face persistent prejudices regarding productivity and availability. Discrimination often manifests through missed opportunities, such as interviews that are never scheduled or promotions that favor other candidates, proving that exclusion can exist even without physical walls.