International Disability Innovation Journal
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Disability, Inclusion, and Social Transformation: Bridging Research and Practic

Impact of Differing Welfare Models on the Theoretical Framing and Implementation of Physical Accessibility

Shanon Wangner Santoso (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University)
Silfia Asning Tias (Universitas Negeri Surabaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Jul 2026

Abstract

Despite the global shift toward a social model of disability that emphasizes removing environmental barriers, many countries still struggle to translate legal rights into accessibility. This study examines how different national welfare systems, such as the productivist model in Japan and the rights-based model in Indonesia, impact the actual implementation of disability infrastructure. Using a qualitative comparative case study and a Most Different Systems Design (MDSD), this research analyzed primary legal documents and official reports from the 2024-2025 period. The findings reveal a significant social policy paradox in both nations. In Japan, productivist focus on economic utility has created adequate physical infrastructure, yet has resulted in social isolation in individuals. Conversely, Indonesia’s rights-based approach provides strong humanistic rhetoric but suffers from policy decoupling, where progressive laws are not matched by material reality, and further sustained by deep-rooted familialism. Therefore, the study concludes that both countries must move beyond purely economic or symbolic goals toward Implementation Engineering. By adopting an interactional understanding of disability, policymakers can bridge the gap between legal rhetoric and physical actuality to create a genuine architecture of belonging.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

idij

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences Other

Description

The International Disability Innovation Journal is a peer-reviewed academic publication that examines disability-related issues, the rights of individuals with disabilities, inclusive education, and innovative strategies for advancing accessibility and inclusion in society. It highlights research on ...