THE MEDICAL MODEL OF DISABILITYTHE MEDICAL MODEL OF DISABILITY ((The Individual Model of Disability)The Individual Model of Disability)

The society we live in tends to consider disability to be a tragedy for the individual and a burden for the family and society

This is based on the lsquoindividualrsquo or lsquomedicalrsquo model of disability This model focuses on the lack of physical or mental functioning and uses a clinical way of describing an individualrsquos disability

This model leads to a dehumanising view where only the nature and severity of the impairment is important together with the extent to which the difference can be put right It casts the individual as victim

When people such as policy makers think about disability in this individual way they tend to concentrate their efforts on lsquocompensatingrsquo people with impairments for what is lsquowrongrsquo with their bodies by targeting lsquospecialrsquo welfare benefits at them and providing segregated lsquospecialrsquo services for them and so on

It can also affect the way disabled people think about themselves Many disabled people internalise the negative message that all their problems stem from not having lsquonormalrsquo bodiesminds and can be led to believe that their impairments automatically prevent them from participating in society

The medical model of disability sees the person as the problem and the solution as making the person lsquonormalrsquo The medical model leads to the provision of special schools special transport sheltered jobs physiotherapy and speech therapy charities and benefits It also leads to eugenics ndash getting rid of disabled babies by stopping disabled people and others having them

Simon Aspis

`The messages we receive are very strong and clear and we have little access to different values which may place a more positive value on our bodies ourselves and our lives Our self image is thus dominated by the non-disabled worlds reaction to us

Jenny Morris

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies practices and procedures of organisationspractices and procedures of organisations

We believe that it is not their impairments that prevent them from enjoying full citizenship but the way society is organised and its attitude to difference

Disability as expression of human diversity and not as Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquosomething in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquo

Learning disabled people have fewer opportunities and a lower quality of life than non-disabled people

The social model of disability makes the important distinction between impairment and disability and is the response of the disabled peoples civil rights movement to the oppression of disabled people Disability is caused by barriers or elements of social organisation that take no or little account of people who have impairments It follows that if disabled people are to be able to join in mainstream society which is their human right the way society is organised must be changed Removing the barriers which exclude (disable) people who have impairments will bring about this change This was the explanation I had sought for years Suddenly what I had always known deep down was confirmed It wasnt my body and mind that was responsible for all my difficulties it was external factors the barriers constructed by the society in which I live -Liz Crow

Examples of what disables people hellipldquoI canrsquot speak I am disabled by the fact that you wonrsquot take the time and trouble to learn how to communicate with merdquoldquoI have a learning disability I am disabled by the fact that you donrsquot produce your leaflets in easy-to-read language and symbols so that I can find out about the services you offerrdquo

Rehabilitate Disabled PersonsRehabilitate Disabled Persons

Charity Medical treatmentCharity Medical treatment

Adjustment to the normAdjustment to the norm

ExclusionExclusion

Little consultationLittle consultation

Rehabilitate SocietyRehabilitate Society

RightsRights

Acceptance of differencesAcceptance of differences

Inclusion participation Inclusion participation citizenshipcitizenship

lsquolsquoNothing about us without usrsquoNothing about us without usrsquo

From To

Disability is an individual problem Disability is a problem in societyDifferences in abilities are inadequacies Differences in abilities are assetsSeeing deficits Seeing strengthsPatient Citizen Special service provision Accessible mainstream services Society choosing for lsquothemrsquo Disabled people choosing for themselvesInstitution orientated Community orientatedUs and them exclusion - tolerance All of us inclusion ndash valuingMedical model of disability Social model of disability- control or cure - change environment and attitudes

Medical Medical modelmodel

Social modelSocial model

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

The medical model of disability sees the person as the problem and the solution as making the person lsquonormalrsquo The medical model leads to the provision of special schools special transport sheltered jobs physiotherapy and speech therapy charities and benefits It also leads to eugenics ndash getting rid of disabled babies by stopping disabled people and others having them

Simon Aspis

`The messages we receive are very strong and clear and we have little access to different values which may place a more positive value on our bodies ourselves and our lives Our self image is thus dominated by the non-disabled worlds reaction to us

Jenny Morris

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies practices and procedures of organisationspractices and procedures of organisations

We believe that it is not their impairments that prevent them from enjoying full citizenship but the way society is organised and its attitude to difference

Disability as expression of human diversity and not as Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquosomething in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquo

Learning disabled people have fewer opportunities and a lower quality of life than non-disabled people

The social model of disability makes the important distinction between impairment and disability and is the response of the disabled peoples civil rights movement to the oppression of disabled people Disability is caused by barriers or elements of social organisation that take no or little account of people who have impairments It follows that if disabled people are to be able to join in mainstream society which is their human right the way society is organised must be changed Removing the barriers which exclude (disable) people who have impairments will bring about this change This was the explanation I had sought for years Suddenly what I had always known deep down was confirmed It wasnt my body and mind that was responsible for all my difficulties it was external factors the barriers constructed by the society in which I live -Liz Crow

Examples of what disables people hellipldquoI canrsquot speak I am disabled by the fact that you wonrsquot take the time and trouble to learn how to communicate with merdquoldquoI have a learning disability I am disabled by the fact that you donrsquot produce your leaflets in easy-to-read language and symbols so that I can find out about the services you offerrdquo

Rehabilitate Disabled PersonsRehabilitate Disabled Persons

Charity Medical treatmentCharity Medical treatment

Adjustment to the normAdjustment to the norm

ExclusionExclusion

Little consultationLittle consultation

Rehabilitate SocietyRehabilitate Society

RightsRights

Acceptance of differencesAcceptance of differences

Inclusion participation Inclusion participation citizenshipcitizenship

lsquolsquoNothing about us without usrsquoNothing about us without usrsquo

From To

Disability is an individual problem Disability is a problem in societyDifferences in abilities are inadequacies Differences in abilities are assetsSeeing deficits Seeing strengthsPatient Citizen Special service provision Accessible mainstream services Society choosing for lsquothemrsquo Disabled people choosing for themselvesInstitution orientated Community orientatedUs and them exclusion - tolerance All of us inclusion ndash valuingMedical model of disability Social model of disability- control or cure - change environment and attitudes

Medical Medical modelmodel

Social modelSocial model

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies People are disabled by their environment the attitudes of others and the policies practices and procedures of organisationspractices and procedures of organisations

We believe that it is not their impairments that prevent them from enjoying full citizenship but the way society is organised and its attitude to difference

Disability as expression of human diversity and not as Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquosomething in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquo

Learning disabled people have fewer opportunities and a lower quality of life than non-disabled people

The social model of disability makes the important distinction between impairment and disability and is the response of the disabled peoples civil rights movement to the oppression of disabled people Disability is caused by barriers or elements of social organisation that take no or little account of people who have impairments It follows that if disabled people are to be able to join in mainstream society which is their human right the way society is organised must be changed Removing the barriers which exclude (disable) people who have impairments will bring about this change This was the explanation I had sought for years Suddenly what I had always known deep down was confirmed It wasnt my body and mind that was responsible for all my difficulties it was external factors the barriers constructed by the society in which I live -Liz Crow

Examples of what disables people hellipldquoI canrsquot speak I am disabled by the fact that you wonrsquot take the time and trouble to learn how to communicate with merdquoldquoI have a learning disability I am disabled by the fact that you donrsquot produce your leaflets in easy-to-read language and symbols so that I can find out about the services you offerrdquo

Rehabilitate Disabled PersonsRehabilitate Disabled Persons

Charity Medical treatmentCharity Medical treatment

Adjustment to the normAdjustment to the norm

ExclusionExclusion

Little consultationLittle consultation

Rehabilitate SocietyRehabilitate Society

RightsRights

Acceptance of differencesAcceptance of differences

Inclusion participation Inclusion participation citizenshipcitizenship

lsquolsquoNothing about us without usrsquoNothing about us without usrsquo

From To

Disability is an individual problem Disability is a problem in societyDifferences in abilities are inadequacies Differences in abilities are assetsSeeing deficits Seeing strengthsPatient Citizen Special service provision Accessible mainstream services Society choosing for lsquothemrsquo Disabled people choosing for themselvesInstitution orientated Community orientatedUs and them exclusion - tolerance All of us inclusion ndash valuingMedical model of disability Social model of disability- control or cure - change environment and attitudes

Medical Medical modelmodel

Social modelSocial model

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

The social model of disability makes the important distinction between impairment and disability and is the response of the disabled peoples civil rights movement to the oppression of disabled people Disability is caused by barriers or elements of social organisation that take no or little account of people who have impairments It follows that if disabled people are to be able to join in mainstream society which is their human right the way society is organised must be changed Removing the barriers which exclude (disable) people who have impairments will bring about this change This was the explanation I had sought for years Suddenly what I had always known deep down was confirmed It wasnt my body and mind that was responsible for all my difficulties it was external factors the barriers constructed by the society in which I live -Liz Crow

Examples of what disables people hellipldquoI canrsquot speak I am disabled by the fact that you wonrsquot take the time and trouble to learn how to communicate with merdquoldquoI have a learning disability I am disabled by the fact that you donrsquot produce your leaflets in easy-to-read language and symbols so that I can find out about the services you offerrdquo

Rehabilitate Disabled PersonsRehabilitate Disabled Persons

Charity Medical treatmentCharity Medical treatment

Adjustment to the normAdjustment to the norm

ExclusionExclusion

Little consultationLittle consultation

Rehabilitate SocietyRehabilitate Society

RightsRights

Acceptance of differencesAcceptance of differences

Inclusion participation Inclusion participation citizenshipcitizenship

lsquolsquoNothing about us without usrsquoNothing about us without usrsquo

From To

Disability is an individual problem Disability is a problem in societyDifferences in abilities are inadequacies Differences in abilities are assetsSeeing deficits Seeing strengthsPatient Citizen Special service provision Accessible mainstream services Society choosing for lsquothemrsquo Disabled people choosing for themselvesInstitution orientated Community orientatedUs and them exclusion - tolerance All of us inclusion ndash valuingMedical model of disability Social model of disability- control or cure - change environment and attitudes

Medical Medical modelmodel

Social modelSocial model

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Rehabilitate Disabled PersonsRehabilitate Disabled Persons

Charity Medical treatmentCharity Medical treatment

Adjustment to the normAdjustment to the norm

ExclusionExclusion

Little consultationLittle consultation

Rehabilitate SocietyRehabilitate Society

RightsRights

Acceptance of differencesAcceptance of differences

Inclusion participation Inclusion participation citizenshipcitizenship

lsquolsquoNothing about us without usrsquoNothing about us without usrsquo

From To

Disability is an individual problem Disability is a problem in societyDifferences in abilities are inadequacies Differences in abilities are assetsSeeing deficits Seeing strengthsPatient Citizen Special service provision Accessible mainstream services Society choosing for lsquothemrsquo Disabled people choosing for themselvesInstitution orientated Community orientatedUs and them exclusion - tolerance All of us inclusion ndash valuingMedical model of disability Social model of disability- control or cure - change environment and attitudes

Medical Medical modelmodel

Social modelSocial model

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Disability Discrimination-MYTHDisability is something an individualldquosuffersrdquo from

Disability Discrimination-FACTDisability is the product of aninteraction between the person and the environment

Challenging Prejudice ndashMedical Model Thinking1048708 Individual is faulty1048708 Diagnosis1048708 Labeling1048708 Impairment becomes focus of attention1048708 Assessment monitoring therapy imposed1048708 Society remains unchanged

Challenging Prejudice ndashSocial Model Thinking1048708 Individual is valued1048708 Strengths and needs defined by self and others1048708 Identify barriers and develop solutions1048708 Resources are available for ordinary services1048708 Relationships nurtured1048708 Diversity welcomed individual is included

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Coming out of the shadows

Disabled people health and social inclusion

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Why is a social model of disability neededThe standard way of thinking about disability in the past was the so-called medical model That remains fine for doctors but it is less useful for others The medical model naturally enough concentrates on disease and impairments It puts what is wrong with someone in the foreground It is concerned with causes of disease It defines and categorises conditions distinguishes different forms and assesses severitiesAll these are important in diagnosis prognosis devising treatment programmes and in prevention But they are not very relevant to the way that someone with a disability lives their day-to-day life If you have epilepsy you know what your seizures are like It isnt necessary to know whether doctors regard them as mild moderate or severe It may be interesting for someone to know that the Latin name for their movement disorder is hemiplegia But the chances are they are concentrating on more practical things

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

What is unhelpful about the medical model

It is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodityIt is likely to inspire pity or even fear Pity is not a useful commodity

Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so Many people are scared of impairments sometimes irrationally so The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of The model risks objectifying people lumping them together because of their condition not because of who they are their condition not because of who they are

It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash It is not nice to be told you are a typical case of something or other ndash and even worse to be viewed like that and even worse to be viewed like that

Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that Perhaps the most important consequence of the medical model is that bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person bringing the impairment into the foreground risks pushing the person into the background They become less of a person and more a into the background They become less of a person and more a collection of symptomscollection of symptoms

What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives What is more it doesnt have very much to say about peoples lives and how they live themand how they live them

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

How is the social model of disability differentHow is the social model of disability different

Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts Instead of emphasising the disability the social model puts the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity the person at the forefront It emphasises dignity independence choice and privacy independence choice and privacy

A key concept of the social model is that society disables A key concept of the social model is that society disables people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social people Another way of saying this is that disability is a social construct How we organise things in our culture limits and construct How we organise things in our culture limits and restricts what some of its members can do restricts what some of its members can do

That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying That takes some understanding so first it is worth clarifying some terminologyhelliphellipsome terminologyhelliphellip

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably Words are important not because of the need to use the fashionably correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking correct terms but because the terminology reveals the thinking behind them Here are some definitions of two key wordsbehind them Here are some definitions of two key words

ImpairmentImpairment Having an impairment means there is something not working Having an impairment means there is something not working properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a properly with part of the body mind or senses Someone who has had a leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning leg amputated has an impairment So does someone whose learning disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone disability makes it difficult for them to remember things So does someone is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has is partially blind or deaf or who has epileptic seizures or who has unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work unwanted muscular spasms or any number of things that dont work properlyproperly DisabilityDisability occurs when a person is excluded because of their occurs when a person is excluded because of their impairment from something that other people in society take for granted impairment from something that other people in society take for granted That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get That might be the chance to attend an event access some service or get involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to involved in an activity It might be to live independently to earn a living to be kept informed or just to make choices for themselvesbe kept informed or just to make choices for themselves

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

You might assume that the impairment causes the You might assume that the impairment causes the disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that disability Wrong It is the choices society makes that causes someone to be disabledcauses someone to be disabled

Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled Organise things differently and they are suddenly enabled though the impairment hasnt changed though the impairment hasnt changed

An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to An obvious example might be a deaf person wanting to attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is attend a conference If no sign language interpreter is there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point there or no loop for a hearing aid there is not much point in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a in going The person is excluded ndash disabled But with a signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the signer operating alongside the speakers or a loop the person can take part just the same as anyone else They person can take part just the same as anyone else They still have the same hearing impairment But they are not still have the same hearing impairment But they are not disableddisabled

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

So the impairments themselves dont matterSo the impairments themselves dont matter

Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear Obviously they still matter Not being able to see hear walk has an important effect on people But generally walk has an important effect on people But generally speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living speaking people find ways to cope ndash they get used to living with the impairment with the impairment

And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot And in any case what someone with an impairment cannot do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are do is always much less than what they can do ndash if they are given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is given the chance The idea of the social model of disability is to give them a chance remove the barrier that society to give them a chance remove the barrier that society placesplaces

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

So impairment does not have to lead to disability So impairment does not have to lead to disability

That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight That is right Think about people who are have poor vision ndash short sight or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would or astigmatism Without spectacles or contact lenses very many would have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events have a much reduced quality of life They could not join in many events and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in and activities and may even be a danger to themselves and others in certain circumstances certain circumstances

But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a But society provides an ophthalmologist on every high street and a system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with system of getting affordable corrective lenses As a result people with bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything bad eyesight dont have to be excluded from anything

If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with If we ordered life differently the same could be true of people with learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the learning disabilities epilepsy spina bifida deafness arthritis and all the other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these other conditions we think of as disabilities People with these impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with impairments could live the lives they wanted getting involved with others and making informed choices about what they doothers and making informed choices about what they do

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a Isnt using aids and adaptations for everyday life still a disability disability No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and No Or if it is we are all disabled We all rely on aids and adaptations of someadaptations of some sort in our daily lives sort in our daily lives

We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for We use motor vehicles for transport electronic aids for entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing entertainment and accessing information We rely on flushing toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need toilets and water on tap for comfort and hygiene We need electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our electrical gadgets for cooking and washing clothes Our society would disable everyone if these were not so readily society would disable everyone if these were not so readily available available

How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space How disabled would you be if you had to find a private space and dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toiletand dig a hole every time you wanted to use the toilet

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

What does the social model mean for disabled peopleWhat does the social model mean for disabled people

The logic is that only disabled people ndash as individuals or groups ndash know how their ability to participate in society in the way that they want to is affected

It is not something you can easily identify from outside So to find out what needs to be different disabled people need to be listened to

That puts them at the centre of things replacing the paternalistic we know whats best approaches of the past

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Models of disabilityModels of disability

bull Individual Disability is located in the individual Individual Disability is located in the individual with an emphasis on individual coping and with an emphasis on individual coping and acceptance acceptance

bull Medical Disability defined in reference to the Medical Disability defined in reference to the personrsquos functional status or condition with an personrsquos functional status or condition with an emphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsemphasis on curereduction of functional deficitsndash Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function Disability associated with loss (eg loss of function

impairment deficits)impairment deficits)

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

The Social Model of DisabilityThe Social Model of Disability

ndash Disability is a function of the interaction of Disability is a function of the interaction of individuals and the social and physical individuals and the social and physical environmentsenvironments

ndash Focus on barriers disabling and enabling Focus on barriers disabling and enabling factors in the physical environment and factors in the physical environment and societysociety

ndash Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as Concept of ldquofunctional limitationsrdquo as influenced by social roles as opposed to influenced by social roles as opposed to medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a medical quantifiers (eg ability to care for a child vs how many lbs can be lifted)child vs how many lbs can be lifted)

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

The Social Model of Disability contThe Social Model of Disability cont

bull Disability as expression of human diversity Disability as expression of human diversity and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or and not as something in need of lsquocurersquo or lsquocorrectionrsquolsquocorrectionrsquo

bull More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and More lsquoin tunersquo with the views and experiences of people with disabilitiesexperiences of people with disabilities

bull Emphasizes social and economic Emphasizes social and economic participation over medical orientationparticipation over medical orientation

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Disability according to the social model is all the Disability according to the social model is all the things that impose restrictions on disabled things that impose restrictions on disabled people ranging from individual prejudice to people ranging from individual prejudice to institutional discrimination from inaccessible institutional discrimination from inaccessible buildings to unusable transport systems from buildings to unusable transport systems from segregated education to excluding work segregated education to excluding work arrangements and so on Further the arrangements and so on Further the consequences of this failure do not simply and consequences of this failure do not simply and randomly fall on individuals but systematically randomly fall on individuals but systematically upon disabled people as a group who upon disabled people as a group who experience this failure as discrimination experience this failure as discrimination institutionalized through societyinstitutionalized through society (Oliver 1996) (Oliver 1996)

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Impairment vs DisabilityImpairment vs Disability

bull Impairment Impairment ndash biological functional cognitivebiological functional cognitive

bull Disability Disability ndash reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure reduced participation due to societyrsquos failure

to accommodate the needs of individuals to accommodate the needs of individuals

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Subjective interpretations of lsquodisabilityrsquo Which of the following statements reflects Which of the following statements reflects

the medical vs the social modelthe medical vs the social model

bull ldquoldquoMy doctorrsquos office is not accessible since My doctorrsquos office is not accessible since it has no wheelchair access This keeps it has no wheelchair access This keeps me from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquome from seeing my doctor for check-upsrdquo

bull ldquoldquoI have a spinal cord injury and use a I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor wheelchair so I canrsquot see the doctor because of thisrdquobecause of thisrdquo

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Rememberbull The individualmedical model identifies The individualmedical model identifies

lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual lsquodisabilityrsquo as a problem located in the individual and emphasizes the biological differences and emphasizes the biological differences compared to the general populationcompared to the general population

bull Most people with disabilities think about their Most people with disabilities think about their lives in terms of the social model of disabilitylives in terms of the social model of disability

bull The social model looks beyond the individual The social model looks beyond the individual and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on and focuses on the barriers that are imposed on individuals by society and environmentindividuals by society and environment

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description

ExerciseExercise

Think about a person with a disability you Think about a person with a disability you may have met Use the different models may have met Use the different models the individualmedical and social model the individualmedical and social model

to describe this personto describe this personNow imagine some problems they have Now imagine some problems they have

based on your 2 descriptions based on your 2 descriptions What support would you suggest based What support would you suggest based

on the needs resulting from the on the needs resulting from the individualmedical model and the social individualmedical model and the social

model descriptionmodel description