The Social Model of Disability
Leeds Involvement Project's work is based around the Social Model of
Disability but what does this mean and where does the phrase come from?
The phrase comes from work done by the Disabled People's Movement. Put
simply it is society which disables people rather than their medical
condition or impairment.
The Social Model looks at the barriers and discrimination that disabled
people experience in society. The way society views and treats disabled
people. The barriers that stop disabled people from taking part on an
equal basis with non-disabled people. Things like poor physical access to
buildings. Poor attitudes and perceptions of disabled people which lead to
discrimination. If things like this were changed then people, whatever
their impairment would be able to take part. The emphasis is not 'curing'
the person's condition or illness.
The traditional view of disability is the Medical Model. The Medical
Model looks at an individual's medical condition and says it's the
individual's illness or condition which causes the problem. For example:
Sarah is a wheelchair user and she would like to go the theatre but she
can't go. Why not? It's not because she has to use a wheelchair. It's
because the theatre isn't accessible. It doesn't have level access or a
wheelchair ramp. If the theatre was made accessible then Sarah would be
able to go. Below are some examples of issues looked at from a medical
model way and then a social model solution way.
Medical and Social Model
| Medical model problem. |
Social model solution. |
| Painful hands, unable to open jars, doors. |
Better designed lids, automatic doors. |
| Difficulties in standing for long periods. |
More seats in public places. |
| Unable to climb steps into buildings. |
Ramps and lifts in all buildings. |
| Other people won't give you a job because they
think you couldn't do it. |
Educate people to look at disabled people's
abilities rather than looking for problems. |
|
