The impact of the disability movement against stigma: a systematic literature review

This systematic literature review aims to critically review theories on disability movements in the social science literatures and explores the impact of disability movements on combating stigma against people with disability. Using a systematic approach, 18,594 articles were screened from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, yielding 47 relevant articles. After a thorough review, 16 articles were selected for analysis based on their focus on the impact of disability movements on stigma. Two experts in the fields of social inclusion and social movement studies conducted the assessment to avoid bias. The findings of this study reveal a growing recognition of the importance of disability movements in challenging societal attitudes and promoting social inclusion from both social movement and social model of disability perspectives. The review concludes that disability movements play a significant role in reducing stigma against people with disabilities. This study contributes novelty by integrating theoretical developments in disability studies with the practical impacts of disability movements across sectors. By synthesizing impact classifications from charitable to empowering, this study underscores the importance of ongoing research in this area to strengthen the impact of stigma reduction and promote social inclusion for individuals with disabilities globally.