Social Constructivist Model Of Disability
Discriminatory attitudes towards the physically and cognitively less able has been an integral part of almost every society throughout history. While extreme cases of such discrimination synonymous with earlier epochs have disappeared immensely, the quality of life experienced by the majority of people with disabilities in modern society remains considerably lower compared to otherwise able-bodied individuals (Baynton, 2001). Such reactions have stemmed from several models of disability, which have had a powerful influence on setting the parameters for how people with impairments are treated by society. As our society expands in becoming ever more socially and technologically complex, the awareness towards disabilities have become less understood.
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The model opposed the oppression inflicted by the medical model, thereby shifting the blame of disability from the individuals with impairments to an oppressive society (Wahl, 2003). First, this model makes an important distinction between the terms impairment and disability, defining an impairment as a term which exist in the real physical world and differentiating the term disability as a social construct that exists in a realm beyond language within a complex organization and limitations imposed by the environment (Connor, 2006). In other words, this model recognizes that some individuals have physical and physiological differences, yet it is society that causes these individuals with such differences to become disabled by the barriers that exist and alienate them by not taking into account their …show more content…
The policies that are important to the socio-political model of disabilities focuses on altering environmental barriers, changing attitudes and programs that are otherwise lacking and advancing human rights and potential for people with disabilities (Baynton, 2001). The socio-political, model then is the only model that has the power to mobilize people with disabilities into political coalitions (Barton, 1992). In this model people with disabilities refuse the legalized inferior treatment based on their so-called medical pathology or inferiority. Thus, this model holds the idea that there is nothing inherent in the disability or in the individual to warrant prejudice, stereotypes and reduced
The model opposed the oppression inflicted by the medical model, thereby shifting the blame of disability from the individuals with impairments to an oppressive society (Wahl, 2003). First, this model makes an important distinction between the terms impairment and disability, defining an impairment as a term which exist in the real physical world and differentiating the term disability as a social construct that exists in a realm beyond language within a complex organization and limitations imposed by the environment (Connor, 2006). In other words, this model recognizes that some individuals have physical and physiological differences, yet it is society that causes these individuals with such differences to become disabled by the barriers that exist and alienate them by not taking into account their …show more content…
The policies that are important to the socio-political model of disabilities focuses on altering environmental barriers, changing attitudes and programs that are otherwise lacking and advancing human rights and potential for people with disabilities (Baynton, 2001). The socio-political, model then is the only model that has the power to mobilize people with disabilities into political coalitions (Barton, 1992). In this model people with disabilities refuse the legalized inferior treatment based on their so-called medical pathology or inferiority. Thus, this model holds the idea that there is nothing inherent in the disability or in the individual to warrant prejudice, stereotypes and reduced