Social Model Of Disability

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A ‘model’ is an ideology or system held by a particular group, in this essay the models referred to will focus upon those surrounding disability and impairment. The models being analysed are the medical model and social model of disability, and their impact on people with impairments. The theory of the social model of disability was a reaction to the ascendance of the medical model in society. Though social modelling ideologies were held in the 1960s, the idea was brought forward by the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in 1975. The UPIAS claimed that it was society that disabled people, thus bringing about the ‘social model’. The medical and social models of disability have then been furthered upon by different theorists, scholars and disability rights advocates. This essay will explore the definition and systems behind these two models of disability, while using articles on the media portrayal of disability to help bring a greater understanding of these models and how they work. The medical model of disability is the theory that the problem of the disability lies with the individual, and that managing the disability with drugs or therapy, finding a cure or managing the disability is the best course of treatment. Olkin (2001, p. 26) states that, ‘The medical model gained momentum in the mid-1800s with the advent of more enlightened and humanistic medicine… Disability is seen as a medical problem that resides in the individual.’ The overall aim of the medical model is to ‘normalise’ the individual as much as medically possible. Jesperson and McNamee (2013, p. 5) state ‘Where certain persons cannot be normalised they are left in a parlous, limbo, state of apparent abnormality.' If the individual cannot ... ... middle of paper ... ...with an impairment speaking from their point of view, and this is the greatest way to encourage people to follow and push for equality, inclusion and the social model. Like the medical model, the social model is not without its criticisms. Shakespeare (2006) argues that though society does disable people, their bodies also do. He believes that you cannot just ignore the impairment and blame society for the fact that people are disabled. It has also been argued by (Bury & Gabe, 2003) that the social model oversimplifies a much larger issue. This essay has served to give a brief understanding of the theories and practices of the medical and social models of disabilities, and how they affect people with disabilities. It is an important issue to consider as there are still many things in the world the disable people and we still have steps to make society inclusive.

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