Concept and Controversial Issues of the Disability Evaluation

Disability evaluation is the most important procedure in the welfare for the disabled. There was a major shift from the medical model of disability to the adoption of the interactive model and the impacts of environmental factors in all aspects of health and functioning. By the literature review, we compared the medical model and the social model of the disability for a better disability evaluation scheme. We explored the concept and structures of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). We tried to explain the concept and controversial issues of the disability evaluation. The ICF was designed to record and organize a wide range of information about health and health-related state. However, the ICF is a new classification method, not an assessment tool for the severity of the disability. For the disability evaluation, it would be better to use the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS) guides for the disability evaluation, which was published by KAMS. To make a good welfare for the disabled, Korean medical doctors should learn the KAMS guides. It is necessary to study and participate in the development of the better evaluation scheme.