Disability Models
“We should stop focussing on the person with disabilities and turn our attention to disabling environments.” Discuss with relevance to completing explanations of disability.
Date: 14/03/13
Word Count: 1,442
“We should stop focussing on the person with disabilities and turn our attention to disabling environments”. This can be done by focussing on the social and rights based models of disability. There are four main models of disability, these are; the charity model, the medical model, the social model and the rights based model. The rights based model and the social model of disability are both closely related. The main point of view within the charity and medical models is that the problem is viewed as being the disabled individual whereas within the social and rights based model the problem is viewed as being the disabling society.
The Charity model tends to view the disabled as people who are unable to do things for themselves. The view of this model is that able people would need to look after those with disabilities, protect them and make decisions for them. The main problem with this model being that it takes the disabled persons independence away as they get used to other people doing everything for them. It also represents disabled people as sufferers of conditions who deserve pity instead of portraying them as individuals who are able to do things for themselves and lead a ‘normal’ life. “Nabil Shaban said: ‘The biggest problem that we, the disabled have is that you, the non-disabled, are only comfortable when you see us as icons of pity.’ Because disabled people are seen as tragic victims, it follows that they need care, are not capable of looking after themselves or managing their own affairs and need charity in order to survive.” (DRC, n.d.) This view can lower the self-esteem and pride of people with disabilities as they feel that they cannot do anything for themselves and constantly need help.
The medical model is
Date: 14/03/13
Word Count: 1,442
“We should stop focussing on the person with disabilities and turn our attention to disabling environments”. This can be done by focussing on the social and rights based models of disability. There are four main models of disability, these are; the charity model, the medical model, the social model and the rights based model. The rights based model and the social model of disability are both closely related. The main point of view within the charity and medical models is that the problem is viewed as being the disabled individual whereas within the social and rights based model the problem is viewed as being the disabling society.
The Charity model tends to view the disabled as people who are unable to do things for themselves. The view of this model is that able people would need to look after those with disabilities, protect them and make decisions for them. The main problem with this model being that it takes the disabled persons independence away as they get used to other people doing everything for them. It also represents disabled people as sufferers of conditions who deserve pity instead of portraying them as individuals who are able to do things for themselves and lead a ‘normal’ life. “Nabil Shaban said: ‘The biggest problem that we, the disabled have is that you, the non-disabled, are only comfortable when you see us as icons of pity.’ Because disabled people are seen as tragic victims, it follows that they need care, are not capable of looking after themselves or managing their own affairs and need charity in order to survive.” (DRC, n.d.) This view can lower the self-esteem and pride of people with disabilities as they feel that they cannot do anything for themselves and constantly need help.
The medical model is
References: Priestley, M. (2001) Disability and the Life Course Global Perspectives. Cambridge University Press. Riddell, S. and Banks, P. (2001) Disability in Scotland A Baseline Study. Disability Rights Commission. Brandt, E.N. and Pope, A.M. (1997) Enabling America: Assessing the Role of Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. National Academy of Sciences. Disabled World towards tomorrow (2010) Definitions of The Models of Disability [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 26 February 2013] DRC with liberty and access for all (n.d.) Models of Disability [Internet] DRC. Available from: [Accessed 26 February 2013] Munyi, C.W. (2012) Past and Present Perceptions towards Disability: A Historical Perspective [Internet] Disability studies Quarterly. Available From: [Accessed 26 February 2013] Leeds (n.d.) Defining Impairment and Disability [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 27 February 2013] Rickell, A. (2009) The Right to a Voice That’s Heard [Internet] Disabilitynow. Available from: [Accessed 27 February 2013] Ashby, C. (2011) Whose "Voice" is it Anyway?: Giving Voice and Qualitative Research Involving Individuals that Type to Communicate [Internet] Disability studies quarterly. Available from: [Accessed 27 February 2013] Stevie Wonder (n.d.) Words of Wonder [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 1 March 2013]