Which model describes impairment, functional limitation, and disability as sequential stages from impairment to disability?

• A. WHO disability model
• B. Disablement model
• C. Legal model
• D. Tort model

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the disablement process, which describes a health condition moving through stages from impairment to functional limitation and then to disability. An impairment is a loss or abnormality in body function or structure caused by the condition. That impairment can lead to functional limitations, meaning difficulty performing specific tasks. Those limitations can culminate in disability, where there’s reduced ability to carry out major life roles or participate in society. This view highlights how medical problems can translate into real-world limitations and where rehabilitation can intervene—by addressing the impairment, helping the person adapt activities, or altering the environment to prevent progression. The other models aren’t framed as a fixed sequence from impairment to disability: the WHO model emphasizes functioning within environmental and personal factors; the legal and tort models focus on rights, responsibilities, or liability rather than a stepwise functional progression.