The Social Model Of Disability And The Right To Digital Accessibility Under The RPwD Act, 2016: A Comparative Legal And Policy Analysis Across Common Law Jurisdictions And Global Accessibility Leaders

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Neha Yadav; School of Law, Galgotias University, U.P., India

ABSTRACT

India’s digitizing economy holds enormous promise for its estimated 26.8 million persons with disabilities (PwDs), but only if digital infrastructure is built to include them. This article examines the Social Model of Disability as the conceptual foundation for inclusive digital policy, traces the evolution of digital accessibility for specially abled persons in India, and undertakes a detailed analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, as India’s primary legislative instrument. Drawing on statistical data from the Census 2011, NFHS5, and DEPwD reports, it documents the gap between India’s progressive legal framework and its implementation realities. Through comparative analysis of common law jurisdictions, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and nations with the world’s most advanced accessibility systems, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Germany, the article identifies structural lessons for India. It concludes with a policy roadmap for embedding the Social Model into India’s digital governance architecture, addressing the urgent need for dedicated enforcement institutions, universal design education, and adequately funded accessibility programmes.

93. THE SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILITY AND THE RIGHT TO DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE RPWD A

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