IAAP CPACC Actual Exam – International
Association of Accessibility Professionals
(IAAP) – 2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified
Questions and Answers | with complete
solutions.
SECTION 1: DISABILITY MODELS AND
FOUNDATIONS (Questions 1-15)
1. Which theoretical model of disability views disability as a problem
of the individual, directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health
condition?
A) Social Model
B) Medical Model
C) Functional Solutions Model
D) Social Identity Model
Answer: B) Medical Model
Rationale: The medical model defines disability as a problem of the person,
directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health conditions, requiring
medical care and individual treatment . The model's primary weakness is
that it overlooks issues caused by inaccessible environments and broader
sociopolitical constraints .
Source: IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge; Stuvia Exam Bank
,2. Which model of disability posits that disability is a socially
created problem, caused by an inaccessible environment rather
than a person's impairment?
A) Functional Solutions Model
B) Medical Model
C) Social Model
D) Economic Model
Answer: C) Social Model
Rationale: The social model of disability holds that disability is caused by the
way society is organized, not by a person's impairment or difference . It
focuses on removing barriers that restrict life choices for people with
disabilities .
Source: IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge; Stuvia Exam Bank
3. What is a key strength of the Social Model of disability?
A) It provides a clinical framework for curing disabilities
B) It empowers people with disabilities by placing the need for change on the
environment
C) It defines disability based on a person's ability to work
D) It focuses on finding specific technological solutions for each impairment
Answer: B) It empowers people with disabilities by placing the need
for change on the environment
,Rationale: The social model empowers people with disabilities by putting the
need for change on the environment instead of the person. It can indirectly
influence designers and architects to create a more usable world .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
4. What is a weakness of the Social Model of disability?
A) It focuses too much on medical treatment
B) It can make disability seem impersonal and de-emphasizes that disability
is an important part of identity
C) It creates rigid standards that people must meet to qualify for assistance
D) It overlooks the need for environmental modifications
Answer: B) It can make disability seem impersonal and de-
emphasizes that disability is an important part of identity
Rationale: Weaknesses of the social model include that it can make a
disability seem impersonal, and some people with disabilities feel like their
disability is an important part of themselves . It also de-emphasizes the
reality that people with disabilities can face .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
5. The Functional Solutions Model of disability is characterized by:
A) Defining disability based on a person's ability to work
B) Identifying functional impairments and looking for ways to create
innovations that help people interact with their environment
C) Viewing disability as a cultural identity
D) Focusing exclusively on medical treatment of impairments
, Answer: B) Identifying functional impairments and looking for ways
to create innovations that help people interact with their
environment
Rationale: The functional solutions model identifies the functional
impairments of a person and looks for ways to create and innovate new ways
to help people interact with their environment . A weakness of this model is
that the search for a specific way to solve a problem might mean that a
broader way to solve the problem is overlooked .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
6. The Economic Model of disability defines disability by:
A) A person's medical diagnosis
B) A person's ability to work
C) A person's social identity
D) A person's environmental barriers
Answer: B) A person's ability to work
Rationale: The economic model defines disability by a person's ability to
work . It recognizes that some people will need modifications to their work
environment and that individuals who can't work may need financial
assistance . A con of this model is that it creates a specific standard for
disability that a person has to meet, and it can also be stigmatizing .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
7. The Biopsychosocial Model of disability is best described as:
Association of Accessibility Professionals
(IAAP) – 2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified
Questions and Answers | with complete
solutions.
SECTION 1: DISABILITY MODELS AND
FOUNDATIONS (Questions 1-15)
1. Which theoretical model of disability views disability as a problem
of the individual, directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health
condition?
A) Social Model
B) Medical Model
C) Functional Solutions Model
D) Social Identity Model
Answer: B) Medical Model
Rationale: The medical model defines disability as a problem of the person,
directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health conditions, requiring
medical care and individual treatment . The model's primary weakness is
that it overlooks issues caused by inaccessible environments and broader
sociopolitical constraints .
Source: IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge; Stuvia Exam Bank
,2. Which model of disability posits that disability is a socially
created problem, caused by an inaccessible environment rather
than a person's impairment?
A) Functional Solutions Model
B) Medical Model
C) Social Model
D) Economic Model
Answer: C) Social Model
Rationale: The social model of disability holds that disability is caused by the
way society is organized, not by a person's impairment or difference . It
focuses on removing barriers that restrict life choices for people with
disabilities .
Source: IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge; Stuvia Exam Bank
3. What is a key strength of the Social Model of disability?
A) It provides a clinical framework for curing disabilities
B) It empowers people with disabilities by placing the need for change on the
environment
C) It defines disability based on a person's ability to work
D) It focuses on finding specific technological solutions for each impairment
Answer: B) It empowers people with disabilities by placing the need
for change on the environment
,Rationale: The social model empowers people with disabilities by putting the
need for change on the environment instead of the person. It can indirectly
influence designers and architects to create a more usable world .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
4. What is a weakness of the Social Model of disability?
A) It focuses too much on medical treatment
B) It can make disability seem impersonal and de-emphasizes that disability
is an important part of identity
C) It creates rigid standards that people must meet to qualify for assistance
D) It overlooks the need for environmental modifications
Answer: B) It can make disability seem impersonal and de-
emphasizes that disability is an important part of identity
Rationale: Weaknesses of the social model include that it can make a
disability seem impersonal, and some people with disabilities feel like their
disability is an important part of themselves . It also de-emphasizes the
reality that people with disabilities can face .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
5. The Functional Solutions Model of disability is characterized by:
A) Defining disability based on a person's ability to work
B) Identifying functional impairments and looking for ways to create
innovations that help people interact with their environment
C) Viewing disability as a cultural identity
D) Focusing exclusively on medical treatment of impairments
, Answer: B) Identifying functional impairments and looking for ways
to create innovations that help people interact with their
environment
Rationale: The functional solutions model identifies the functional
impairments of a person and looks for ways to create and innovate new ways
to help people interact with their environment . A weakness of this model is
that the search for a specific way to solve a problem might mean that a
broader way to solve the problem is overlooked .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
6. The Economic Model of disability defines disability by:
A) A person's medical diagnosis
B) A person's ability to work
C) A person's social identity
D) A person's environmental barriers
Answer: B) A person's ability to work
Rationale: The economic model defines disability by a person's ability to
work . It recognizes that some people will need modifications to their work
environment and that individuals who can't work may need financial
assistance . A con of this model is that it creates a specific standard for
disability that a person has to meet, and it can also be stigmatizing .
Source: Stuvia IAAP CPACC Exam Bank
7. The Biopsychosocial Model of disability is best described as:
