La Classification internationale du fonctionnement : une victoire militante dissimulée

Aims

To present the conceptual framework of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), often cited in a misleading way, because the authors only refer to the introduction to the Manual.

Method

The entire Manual is analysed, including the coding guidelines and the only article cited in the Manual.

Results

The conceptual framework and policy implications differ from what is usually claimed. They refer to the disability studies movement. The purpose of the ICF is to oppose the categorisation of persons and to promote the universal adaptation of the environment. This is why several aspects of the ICF do not conform to the usual rules for classifications.

Discussion

The conceptual framework and policy implications are concealed by three means: a different vocabulary is used in the introduction and in the coding guidelines, the conceptual framework is not described in the long introduction but only in the coding guidelines, and the detailed guidelines suggest that users build their own classification for their own purpose. This concealment is necessary in order obtain a large circulation of the classification.

Conclusions

Careful analysis of the Manual and of the only cited article shows the advocacy beliefs of the group of experts who steered the classification.