Introduce
Over the years, disability activists and scholars developed “models of disability” to understand cultural responses to disability and to foster inclusion. The most prominent are medical and social models.
Develop
In the past, the medical model was dominant. It presented disability an individual or personal matter, with people in need of ‘cure’ and medical intervention. This has been criticised for blaming individuals and for being too focused on ‘fixing’ people. The medical model makes assumptions about quality of life, suggesting that disability = tragedy.
Medical approaches are of course beneficial to advance and supporting health needs – but there is more that can be done. This is where the social model comes in.
There are social and environmental factors that disable. The social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers and creating inclusive environments, adds an important perspective. This approach:
- shifts the focus from the individual differences and considers the societal and environmental barriers that disable people
- considers disability a result of the interaction between a person and their environment, rather than a trait of an individual
- demonstrates that disability is one aspect of a person’s identity, similar to race or gender
- highlights that the environment – physical and social – as creating barriers that exclude people with disabilities. Societal attitudes, discrimination, and lack of accessibility are the main factors that disable individuals. For example, a person using a wheelchair is not disabled by their condition but by the lack of ramps and accessible facilities.
The social model argues for changes in society to remove these barriers, promoting inclusion and equal opportunities. This can involve policy changes, improving physical accessibility, and challenging discriminatory attitudes.
While the social model has been influential, it is not without its critiques. Some argue that it may oversimplify the complex experiences of disability and neglect the importance of medical and personal aspects of living with a disability.
Watch the following video:
Reflect
Reflecting on the social model can help you understand the broader context of disability and the importance of creating an inclusive society. How do you think this model applies to your own experiences or observations where you work?