What do we actually mean by 'disabled'? Why do we say 'disability' and 'disabled' instead of 'diffability', 'differently-abled', 'special' or 'different'? What are disabling barriers?

At Eleos Racing, all of our work is informed by the Social Model of Disability. The Social Model holds that a person isn’t 'disabled' because of their impairment, health condition, or the ways in which they may differ from what is commonly considered the medical 'norm'; rather it is the physical and attitudinal barriers in society – prejudice, lack of access adjustments and systemic exclusion – that disable people. To say that someone is 'just different' or 'differently-abled' ignores the fact that they face these disabling barriers created by society, and implies that they do not experience discrimination, and that society does not need to change to become more accessible and inclusive.

The Social Model was developed by disabled people to identify and take action against discrimination, and to centre equality and human rights. This is in contrast to the traditional Medical Model, which presents disability as an individual, medical 'problem', focuses on what a person can't do because of their particular physical, neurological or psychological characteristics, centres care, cure and welfare instead of accessibility, independence and inclusion, and places responsibility and burden on the disabled individual. The Social Model takes the focus away from impairment; it places responsibility on government, organisations, businesses and individuals across all sectors of society to identify and implement constructive changes to remove barriers and increase access.

In the United Kingdom alone, approximately 16 million people – nearly a quarter of the population – are living with disabilities. These disabilities span a wide spectrum, from physical impairments to conditions that might make people learn and think in different ways. Not all disabilities are visible, including conditions such as autism, which can significantly impact an individual’s daily life while often remaining unnoticed by others.

Recently, there have been some fantastic projects across racing including the RCA Racecourse Accessibility Project. This is a collective effort by British racecourses to enhance customer accessibility and welcome disabled guests. This project recognises the diverse needs of racegoers and strives to create an environment where everyone, particularly those with disabilities, feels comfortable and included.

However, spectatorship is only one aspect of horse racing. What about those who would like to take their interest further and enjoy the thrill of racehorse ownership? How accessible are our industry racing yards?