Critical disability studies is an interdisciplinary field of research and a critical theoretical approach. It examines disability not as an inherent individual deficit but as a complex social, cultural, and political phenomenon shaped by systemic power relations, environmental barriers, and historical contexts. Key characteristics include the critique of medical and individual models, analysis of ableism and normalization, emphasis on the social model of disability and intersectionality, and engagement with disability justice principles. Its significance lies in challenging dominant understandings, promoting social equity, and centering disabled people's lived experiences and knowledge within academic inquiry and social change efforts.