Disability Models (1)

Models of Disabilities
by Tamiru D.
1. The Moral Model of Disability…
 the attitude that people are morally responsible for

their own disability.
 the oldest Model / pattern for understanding
disability.
 Based in religious mythology, it viewed disability as a
result of sin and shame.
 For example, the disability may be seen as a result of
bad actions of parents if congenital (Inherited), or as a
result of committed magic if not.
 This can be seen in the doctrine of karma in Indian
religions.
…The Moral Model of Disability.
Karma (which means act, action) in Indian

Religion and Philosophy, the universal causative
law by which good or bad actions determine the
future modes of an individual’s existence.
2. The Medical Model of Disability:
 emerged as science took over from religion in the explanation of
natural phenomena.
 disabilities are seen as 'diseases' or 'illnesses' to be cured by
doctors.
 presented as viewing disability as a problem of the person, directly
caused by disease, trauma, or other health condition
 which therefore requires sustained medical care provided in the
form of individual treatment by professionals
 management of the disability is aimed at a "cure," or the
individual’s adjustment and behavioral change that would lead to
an "almost-cure" or effective cure.
 medical care is viewed as the main issue, and at the political level,
the principal response is that of modifying or reforming healthcare
policy.
Medical model of disability…continued
 impairments or differences should be 'fixed' or changed

by medical and other treatments.
 looks at what is 'wrong' with the person, not what the
person needs.
 Society focuses on ‘compensating’ people with
impairments for what is ‘wrong’ with their bodies.
 It creates low expectations and leads to people losing
independence, choice and control in their own lives.
 says people are disabled by their impairments or
differences.
medical model …continued
 is based on a belief that the difficulties associated
with the disability should be accepted wholly by
the disabled person.
 And that the disabled person should make extra
effort (perhaps in time and/or money) to ensure
that they do not inconvenience to anyone else.
 disability is understood as an individual problem.
 If somebody has an impairment
– a visual, mobility or hearing impairment, for
example
– their inability to see, walk or hear is
understood as their disability.
 ‘disability’ is a health condition dealt with by

medical professionals.
 ‘Disability’ is seen 'to be a problem of the
individual.
 From the medical model, a person with disability
is in need of being fixed or cured.
 From this point of view, disability is a tragedy and
people with disability are to be empathized.
 views disability as a ‘problem’ that belongs to the

disabled individual. It is not seen as an issue to
concern anyone other than the individual
affected.
For example, if a wheelchair using student is
unable to get into a building because of some
steps, the medical model would suggest that this
is because of the wheelchair, rather than the
steps.
Some results:
• Rejection by family, Neighbors,

• Isolation from non-disabled peers,
• Restricted options for development, growth
• Restricted Social relationships,
• Neglect and abuse.
3. Social Model of Disability:
 sees the issue of "disability" as a socially created problem and a

matter of the full integration of individuals into society.
 disability is not an attribute of an individual, but rather a
complex collection of conditions, many of which are created by
the social environment.
 The management of the problem requires social action and is the
collective responsibility of society at large to make the
environmental modifications necessary for the full participation
of PWD in all areas of social life.
continued…
The issue is both cultural and ideological,
requiring individual, community, and large-scale
social change.
From this perspective, equal access for someone
with an impairment/disability is a human rights
issue of major concern.
Contd…
The Social Model of Disability makes the
important difference between ‘impairment’
and ‘disability’.
These barriers include people’s attitudes to
disability, and physical and organizational
barriers.
Contd…
 says that disability is caused by the way society
is organized, rather than by a person’s
impairment or difference.
 It looks at ways of removing barriers that
restrict life choices for disabled people.
 When barriers are removed, disabled people
can be independent and equal in society, with
choice and control over their own lives.
Contd…
 ‘disability’ is the result of the interaction b/n
people living with impairments and an
environment filled with physical, attitudinal,
communication and social barriers.
It therefore carries the implication that the
physical, attitudinal, communication and social
environment must change to enable people living
with impairments to participate in society on an
equal basis with others.
Contd…
The social model seeks to change society in order
to accommodate people living with impairment;
 it does not seek to change persons with
impairment to accommodate society.
It supports the view that people with disability
have a right to be fully participating citizens on
an equal basis with others.
Contd…
 draws on the idea that it is society that disables
people, through designing everything to meet
the needs of the majority of people who are not
disabled.
 recognition within the social model that there is a
great deal that society can do to reduce, and
ultimately remove, some of these disabling
barriers, and that this task is the responsibility of
society, rather than the disabled person.
Contd…
The social model is about the barriers that disabled
people face.
For example, if a wheelchair-user cannot climb
stairs, then a ramp or a stair lift should be fitted.
If a blind person cannot read written information

then the solution is to provide it in an alternative
format such as audio or braille.
Contd…
social model…continued
 understands disability as a r/n b/n an individual

and his/er social environment:
 The exclusion of people with certain physical and
mental characteristics from major domains of
social life.
 exclusion is manifested not only in deliberate
segregation, but in a built environment and
organized social activity that preclude or restrict
the participation of people seen or labelled as
having disabilities.
Social model of disability
Disabled people developed the social model of

disability because
 the traditional medical model did not explain their
personal experience of disability or help to develop
more inclusive ways of living.
Some results:
• In the way society defines & conceptualizes

disability,
• To the way disability is measured and counted,
• To the design and conduct of research,
• From an emphasis on services to an emphasis on
support.
Models of Disability: A Contrast
Medical Model Social Model
Disability is a difference from average

Disability is a deficiency or abnormality
Being disabled, in itself, is neutral

Being disabled is negative
Disability is in the relationship between the

Disability is in the person person and society/environment
The solution for disability-related problems is The solution is removing the barriers [-
cure changing the relationship] between the
person and society/environment
The expert is the professional

The expert can be: the person, an
advocate, anyone who changes the social
relationship
4. The empowering Model of Disability:
 Allows for the PWD and his/her family to decide

the course of their treatment and what services
they wish to benefit from.
 This, in turn, turns the professional into a service
provider whose role is to offer guidance and carry
out the client’s decisions.
 In other words, this model “empowers” the
individual to pursue his/her own goals.
Any questions so far????

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Models of Disabilities

 the attitude that people are morally responsible for

Karma (which means act, action) in Indian

 impairments or differences should be 'fixed' or changed

 ‘disability’ is a health condition dealt with by

 views disability as a ‘problem’ that belongs to the

• Rejection by family, Neighbors,

 sees the issue of "disability" as a socially created problem and a

If a blind person cannot read written information

 understands disability as a r/n b/n an individual

Disabled people developed the social model of

• In the way society defines & conceptualizes

Disability is a difference from average

Being disabled, in itself, is neutral

Disability is in the relationship between the

The expert is the professional

 Allows for the PWD and his/her family to decide

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