Introduction and objective:
Disability is a multi-faceted issue, the study of which requires an interdisciplinary approach. It should be emphasized that it is experienced not only by those diretly affected, but also exerts an effect on the functioning of entire societies. The aim of the study was identification of multidimensional nature of disability, especialy the assessment of its perception from the perspective of two different fields and scientific disciplines, i.e. medical and literary approaches which, in the authors› opinion, not only complement and complete each other, but also appreciate the importance and advantages of the contextual – and not only fragmentary – describing phenomena of significant social and cultural importance.

Review methods:
The study was conducted by triangulation method, mainly: the method of critical analysis of literature, examination of documents, logical analysis and construction, and the comparative method.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
In disability studies, it is emphasized that this issue has been inscribed in the history of mankind since the earliest times; however, only in the second half of the 20th century it ceased to be treated only as a medical phenomenon. It appeared mainly as a social and political, as well as a cultural phenomenon, and an object of research conducted from the perspective of other quite numerous disciplines, or concepts and paradigms.

Summary:
The aim of the study was to present various aspects of disability, both from the medical, social,, and humanistic perspective, in order to broaden the perception of this complex phenomenon. The study is a contribution to research on the issue of disability, in the area of available scientific disability studies, as part of the developing trend of narrative medicine.