The Models Of Disability

>The medical model of disability see the ‘disability first,
it sees people with disabilities as sick and in need of a
The two main models of disability are the Social Modelcure. The Medical Model could never comprehend that
and the Medical Model. There are other models ofa ‘Person’ with a disability may actually be
disability, however these two are the most commonhappy with their life and their disabilities.
due to their conflicting opinions of the disabled personIt is seen as the ‘disabled persons’ fault that
and his or her needs and responsibilities.they cannot participate to the same levels of those
without disabilities.
The Social Model Of DisabilityThe medical model seeks to cure the disability not cure
The Social Model of disability sees the person with athe environment that restricts them from fully
disability not the disabled person. Prevention of theparticipating.
‘Person’ with a disability taking an active roll inThe medical model sees the limitations of that persons
many day-to-day events and activities is the result ofdisabilities and only believes those limitations can be
barriers imposed by sociality.bridged by means of curing the disabled person to
Such barriers are often inaccessible buildings andenable they to fully participate.
services as well as inaccessible transport such asThe medical model has also been known as the
trains, busses and taxis etc.‘individual model’ as it places the problems
It is the responsibility of society to adapt to meet thoseand restrictions caused by disability firmly in the hands
needs in the same way society has adapted to meetof the individual.
the needs of people without disabilities in areas suchHistorical Reasons For Change
as getting from A to B on public transport to be ableIn the late 1960s the Disabled Income Group (DIG) in
to undertake their work commitments or a lift to theBritain became one of the largest organisations of
18th floor to assist when carrying their normaldisabled people in the world. This inturn brought us
day-to-day workload.what we now know as ‘Disability Benefit’ an
Those people above are not pitied, they are mealyimcome that helps assist people with disability to meet
assisted. People with disabilities are not looking for pity,some of the extra cost needed in partisipating to a
they are simply seeking the same assistance fromfuller degree.
society to be able to achieve as near as possible theWhat this achieved more than anything else was to
same results.show that it was Society that was retricting people
The Social Model of disability seeks to assist peoplewith disabilities not the person themselves.
with disabilities by changing the environment in whichNot unexpectedly there was criticism of the new
they live, work, and play, they see the problems thatradical approach to disability, this of course came from
society have placed in their way and appreciate thethe Medical Models ideas of disability and how they
need for campaign to cure society not cure theshould be approached or hidden away from society
person.rather than activly taking part.
This approach being a positive approach that does notThankfully we have now moved on so that the
blame the disability is of great benefit in achieving themajority of people relate to disability throught the eyes
feeling of inclusion in society instead of exclusion.of the Social Model and can see that society must
The Medical Model Of Disabilitychange to meet their needs.