Models of Disability: Social Model

Models of Disability

Social Model

• Focuses on the social and environmental barriers that disable people, rather than their individual impairments
• Views disability as a form of social oppression, resulting from the failure of society to accommodate and include people with impairments
• Emphasizes the need for social change and removal of barriers to enable full participation and inclusion
• Key principles:
  • Disability is a social construct, not a personal tragedy
  • People with impairments are not the problem, but rather the environment and society that excludes them
  • Disability is a human rights issue, requiring social justice and equality

Medical Model

• Views disability as a personal tragedy or defect, resulting from an individual's impairment or illness
• Focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of the impairment, rather than the social and environmental barriers
• Emphasizes the role of medical professionals in "fixing" the individual, rather than addressing societal barriers
• Key principles:
  • Disability is a personal problem, requiring medical intervention
  • People with impairments are seen as "sick" or "broken" and in need of repair
  • Disability is a medical issue, rather than a social or human rights issue

Charity Model

• Views disability as a personal misfortune, eliciting sympathy and pity from others
• Focuses on providing charity and welfare to people with impairments, rather than addressing social and environmental barriers
• Emphasizes the role of benevolent organizations and individuals in "helping" people with impairments
• Key principles:
  • Disability is a personal tragedy, requiring sympathy and charity
  • People with impairments are seen as objects of pity, rather than as equals
  • Disability is a personal issue, rather than a social or human rights issue

Biopsychosocial Model

• Views disability as the result of an interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors
• Focuses on the complex interplay between an individual's impairment, their personal and psychological experiences, and the social and environmental context
• Emphasizes the need for a holistic approach, addressing the individual's physical, emotional, and social needs
• Key principles:
  • Disability is a multifaceted issue, requiring a comprehensive approach
  • People with impairments have unique experiences and perspectives, shaped by their individual and social context
  • Disability is a complex issue, requiring collaboration between medical, social, and psychological professionals

Models of Disability

Social Model

• Focuses on social and environmental barriers that disable people, rather than individual impairments
• Views disability as a form of social oppression, resulting from society's failure to accommodate and include people with impairments
• Emphasizes the need for social change and removal of barriers to enable full participation and inclusion
• Disability is seen as a social construct, not a personal tragedy
• Environment and society are the problem, not the individual with impairments
• Disability is a human rights issue, requiring social justice and equality

Medical Model

• Views disability as a personal tragedy or defect, resulting from an individual's impairment or illness
• Focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and cure of the impairment, rather than social and environmental barriers
• Emphasizes the role of medical professionals in "fixing" the individual
• Disability is seen as a personal problem, requiring medical intervention
• People with impairments are seen as "sick" or "broken" and in need of repair
• Disability is a medical issue, rather than a social or human rights issue

Charity Model

• Views disability as a personal misfortune, eliciting sympathy and pity from others
• Focuses on providing charity and welfare to people with impairments, rather than addressing social and environmental barriers
• Emphasizes the role of benevolent organizations and individuals in "helping" people with impairments
• Disability is seen as a personal tragedy, requiring sympathy and charity
• People with impairments are seen as objects of pity, rather than as equals
• Disability is a personal issue, rather than a social or human rights issue

Biopsychosocial Model

• Views disability as the result of an interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors
• Focuses on the complex interplay between an individual's impairment, their personal and psychological experiences, and the social and environmental context
• Emphasizes the need for a holistic approach, addressing the individual's physical, emotional, and social needs
• Disability is seen as a multifaceted issue, requiring a comprehensive approach
• People with impairments have unique experiences and perspectives, shaped by their individual and social context
• Disability is a complex issue, requiring collaboration between medical, social, and psychological professionals

Models of Disability

Social Model

• The social model focuses on societal barriers that disable individuals, rather than their impairments.
• It views disability as a result of societal oppression and exclusion, rather than a personal characteristic.
• The model emphasizes the need to change society to accommodate people with disabilities, promoting accessibility and inclusion.
• Disability is seen as a social construct, created by societal attitudes and barriers.
• People with disabilities are not inherently "disabled", but rather disabled by society's failure to adapt.

Medical Model

• The medical model attributes disability to an individual's impairment or medical condition.
• It views disability as a personal tragedy or problem that needs to be cured or fixed.
• The model emphasizes the need for medical intervention and treatment to "fix" the individual.
• Disability is seen as a result of individual impairment or medical condition, rather than societal factors.
• People with disabilities are viewed as "sick" or "broken" and in need of repair by medical professionals.

Biopsychosocial Model

• The biopsychosocial model considers the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to disability.
• It views disability as a complex issue that cannot be attributed to a single factor.
• The model emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to understanding and addressing disability.
• Disability results from the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors, rather than a single cause.
• A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to address disability, recognizing that people with disabilities have complex needs beyond just medical treatment.