IAAP CPACC CERTIFICATION: DISABILITIES, CHALLENGES, AND ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGIES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE CPACC STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027
About how many people have a disability? - ANS ✔✔One in five people, or about 20 percent
What is the medical theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability in terms of biological
impairments; a problem caused by genetic disorders, disease, trauma or other health conditions.
Disability is treated as a biological problem that diminishes quality of life and needs to be treated with
professional medical care
What are the strengths of the medical theoretical model of disability? (2) - ANS ✔✔1. Acknowledges
that there is a biological condition placing individuals with disabilities at a disadvantage
2. Creates a set of clearly-defined biological criteria for medical treatment and government assistance
What are the weaknesses of the medical theoretical model of disability? (4) - ANS ✔✔1. Overlooks the
impact of the social environment on a person with a disability
2. Makes disability a characteristic, labeling the person as different from the rest of the population
3. Excludes those with disabilities who do not fit into the defined criteria, meaning they might not be
able to receive the care and benefits they need
4. Makes people have to prove their disability in order to receive the necessary care and benefits
What is the social theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as an avoidable condition
caused by poor design in society. Acknowledges there is a medical or biological component, while
stressing more inclusive designs could remove barriers for people with disabilities.
What are the strengths of the social theoretical model of disability? (2) - ANS ✔✔1. Empowers
individuals with disabilities by removing the stigma; assumes society will create an inclusive
environment, not that people with disabilities need to accept a lower quality of life
2. Empowers designers of physical and virtual environments to think about usability for everyone,
resulting in better designs overall
What are the weaknesses of the social theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Ignores the
physical reality of having a disability; accepting and owning one's disability can be healthy, both
emotionally and psychologically
What is the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as a series of
impairments or limitations and the solutions to eradicate or reduce these limitations through technology
or methodology
What are the strengths of the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1.
Focuses on ideas, technologies, and innovations which benefit people with disabilities and improve their
lives
, What are the weaknesses of the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1.
Misses opportunities to address larger social context which might make a solution obsolete because it
focuses too much on creating practical technological solutions
What is the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing
disability as a personal identity through communicating with others who share similar life experiences
based on their disability; can be particularly strong among people are deaf and use sign language
What are the strengths of the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? (2) -
ANS ✔✔1. Accepts the disability as an important part of one's emotional and psychological well-being
2. Gains political strength through alliances and advocacy networks
What are the weaknesses of the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? (2) -
ANS ✔✔1. Does not serve as a useful basis for technical definitions of disability because groups of
people with different disabilities or no disabilities might consider themselves part of the same social
group
2. May be a result of feeling excluded from the rest of society
What is the charity theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as an unfortunate or
tragic condition worthy of special treatment; those without disabilities take pity on those with
disabilities
What are the strengths of the charity theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Creates a sense of
empathy in those without disabilities which inspires them to assist those with disabilities
What are the weaknesses of the charity theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Encourages
unequal social and political relationships, which can slow down progress overall for those with
disabilities
What are the theoretical models of disability? (5) - ANS ✔✔1. Medical
2. Social
3. Functional Solutions
4. Social Identity or cultural affiliation
5. Charity
What is blindness? - ANS ✔✔A total loss of vision, or extremely limited sight
What are the main categories of disabilities? (5) - ANS ✔✔1. Visual
2. Auditory
3. Motor
4. Cognitive
5. Seizure disorders
Seeing digital or electronic interfaces can be a challenge for people who are blind. What are the
potential solutions? (3) - ANS ✔✔1. Screen readers can read content out loud (assistive technology)
2. Self-voicing interfaces and applications can broadcast information, but not interact (assistive
technology)
TECHNOLOGIES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE CPACC STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027
About how many people have a disability? - ANS ✔✔One in five people, or about 20 percent
What is the medical theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability in terms of biological
impairments; a problem caused by genetic disorders, disease, trauma or other health conditions.
Disability is treated as a biological problem that diminishes quality of life and needs to be treated with
professional medical care
What are the strengths of the medical theoretical model of disability? (2) - ANS ✔✔1. Acknowledges
that there is a biological condition placing individuals with disabilities at a disadvantage
2. Creates a set of clearly-defined biological criteria for medical treatment and government assistance
What are the weaknesses of the medical theoretical model of disability? (4) - ANS ✔✔1. Overlooks the
impact of the social environment on a person with a disability
2. Makes disability a characteristic, labeling the person as different from the rest of the population
3. Excludes those with disabilities who do not fit into the defined criteria, meaning they might not be
able to receive the care and benefits they need
4. Makes people have to prove their disability in order to receive the necessary care and benefits
What is the social theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as an avoidable condition
caused by poor design in society. Acknowledges there is a medical or biological component, while
stressing more inclusive designs could remove barriers for people with disabilities.
What are the strengths of the social theoretical model of disability? (2) - ANS ✔✔1. Empowers
individuals with disabilities by removing the stigma; assumes society will create an inclusive
environment, not that people with disabilities need to accept a lower quality of life
2. Empowers designers of physical and virtual environments to think about usability for everyone,
resulting in better designs overall
What are the weaknesses of the social theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Ignores the
physical reality of having a disability; accepting and owning one's disability can be healthy, both
emotionally and psychologically
What is the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as a series of
impairments or limitations and the solutions to eradicate or reduce these limitations through technology
or methodology
What are the strengths of the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1.
Focuses on ideas, technologies, and innovations which benefit people with disabilities and improve their
lives
, What are the weaknesses of the functional solutions theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1.
Misses opportunities to address larger social context which might make a solution obsolete because it
focuses too much on creating practical technological solutions
What is the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing
disability as a personal identity through communicating with others who share similar life experiences
based on their disability; can be particularly strong among people are deaf and use sign language
What are the strengths of the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? (2) -
ANS ✔✔1. Accepts the disability as an important part of one's emotional and psychological well-being
2. Gains political strength through alliances and advocacy networks
What are the weaknesses of the social identity or cultural affiliation theoretical model of disability? (2) -
ANS ✔✔1. Does not serve as a useful basis for technical definitions of disability because groups of
people with different disabilities or no disabilities might consider themselves part of the same social
group
2. May be a result of feeling excluded from the rest of society
What is the charity theoretical model of disability? - ANS ✔✔Viewing disability as an unfortunate or
tragic condition worthy of special treatment; those without disabilities take pity on those with
disabilities
What are the strengths of the charity theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Creates a sense of
empathy in those without disabilities which inspires them to assist those with disabilities
What are the weaknesses of the charity theoretical model of disability? (1) - ANS ✔✔1. Encourages
unequal social and political relationships, which can slow down progress overall for those with
disabilities
What are the theoretical models of disability? (5) - ANS ✔✔1. Medical
2. Social
3. Functional Solutions
4. Social Identity or cultural affiliation
5. Charity
What is blindness? - ANS ✔✔A total loss of vision, or extremely limited sight
What are the main categories of disabilities? (5) - ANS ✔✔1. Visual
2. Auditory
3. Motor
4. Cognitive
5. Seizure disorders
Seeing digital or electronic interfaces can be a challenge for people who are blind. What are the
potential solutions? (3) - ANS ✔✔1. Screen readers can read content out loud (assistive technology)
2. Self-voicing interfaces and applications can broadcast information, but not interact (assistive
technology)
