The social model of disability proposes that what makes someone disabled is not their medical, psychological or development condition, but the attitudes and structures of society.
Medical Model of Disability
The medical model of disability says people are disabled by their impairments or differences. Under the medical model, these impairments or differences should be ‘fixed’ or changed by medical and other treatments, even when the impairment or difference does not cause pain or illness.
The medical model looks at what is ‘wrong’ with the person and not what the person needs. It onus is placed on the individual to overcoming these ‘flaws’ and creates low expectations and leads to people losing independence, choice and control in their own lives.
In this model it can be simply put as
Person + Disability = Less Ability
Social Model of Disability
Disabled people developed the social model of disability because the traditional medical model did not explain their personal experience of disability or help to develop more inclusive ways of living. The social model of disability, by contrast, distinguishes between impairment and disability, identifying the latter as a disadvantage that stems from a lack of fit between a person and their social environment. It looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. When barriers are removed, disabled people can be independent and equal in society, with choice and control over their own lives. It is a civil rights approach to disability
In this model it can be simply put as
Ability + Barrier = Disability
Some of the key ways people are disabled by society are:
- prejudice, opinions and attitudes
- labelling
- exclusion
- restricted access
- ignorance
- lack of financial independence
- not having information in formats which are accessible to them.
Why is it important to use a social model of disability?
Using the social model of disability instead of the medical model can change people’s outlooks on what other people can achieve, and how organisations and our environments should be structured. People who follow this way of thinking will be able to see past the outdated ways of doing things that can be a barrier to people with disabilities leading full and active lives.
The social model of disability enables us as a society to look past the capabilities of all individuals and towards the barriers that are created that block accessibility, independence and opportunities for all. Using a universal design approach and being inclusive of everyone, it enables us to create a world for for people of all abilities, aptitudes, and attitudes.
I strongly believe in the social model of disability model and our responsibility of individuals to create a world that is more inclusive. This is a core belief for WildheartParenting and will underpin all that will be written here. It is the reason why it is our first dedicated post.