Disability has been understood and explained through various models that reflect changing social, medical, and political perspectives. These models influence how disability is perceived, how persons with disabilities are treated, and how rehabilitation services are planned and delivered. A critical analysis of the major models of disability reveals their contributions as well as their limitations, and highlights the need for a more holistic understanding. The medical model of disability views disability as a problem located within the individual. According to this model, disability arises from disease, injury, or impairment that requires medical treatment, cure, or management. Rehabilitation under this model focuses on diagnosis, therapy, surgery, and assistive devices with the aim of restoring the person to a state as close to “normal” as possible. The strength of the medical model lies in its contribution to advances in healthcare, rehabilitation techniques, and assistive technology, which have improved the functional abilities and quality of life of many persons with disabilities. However, this model has been widely criticized for being reductionist and paternalistic. It tends to ignore social, psychological, and environmental factors, and often positions persons with disabilities as passive recipients of care rather than active participants in decision-making. By emphasizing “deficit” and “abnormality,” it can reinforce stigma and dependency. In contrast, the social model of disability shifts the focus from the individual to society. It argues that disability is not caused primarily by impairment, but by social barriers such as inaccessible buildings, discriminatory attitudes, inadequate policies, and lack of opportunities. From this perspective, a person is disabled by an environment