Seeing the person? Disability theories and speech and language therapy

The potential value of a framework enabling practitioners to conceptualise speech and language therapy from a range of perspectives engendered by diff erent theories about disability is explored. Four disability research parad igms are used to categorise professional activities, whilst the 'individual ' and 'social' models of disability are considered as alternative value sys tems. Challenges facing speech and language therapists in developing roles and services to embrace different perspectives are outlined.