Models of Disability free essay sample

Disability is a human reality that has been perceived differently by diverse cultures and historical periods. For most of the 20th century, disability was defined according to a medical model. In the medical model, disability is assumed to be a way to characterize a particular set of largely static, functional limitations. This led to stereotyping and defining people by condition or limitations. World Health Organization (WHO) – New definition of Disability In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a new definition of disability, declaring it an umbrella term with several components: * impairments:  a problem in body function or structure * activity limitations:  a difficulty encountered by a person in executing a task or action * participation restrictions:  Ã‚  a problem experienced by a person in involvement in life situations. Social or Human Rights – New Model The new definition of disability: * Emphasizes the contextual Focuses on the role played by society in defining, causing, or maintaining disability, or disabling experiences * Respects individual abilities and choices Definition of disability| OLD APPROACH| NEW PARADIGM| * A diagnosis * A medical problem†. We will write a custom essay sample on Models of Disability or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A person is limited and defined by the impairment or condition| * A social and environmental issue that deals with accessibility, accommodations, and equity * Individuals with temporary or permanent impairments require accommodations to live full and independent lives| Strategies to address disability| OLD APPROACH| NEW PARADIGM| Fix the individual * Correct the deficit within the individual * Provide medical, vocational, or psychological rehabilitation services| * Remove barriers: physical, intellectual, cultural and educational * Create access through accommodations, universal design, and inclusive learning environments| Role of person with disability| OLD APPROACH| NEW PARADIGM| * Object of intervention * Patient * Research subject| * Community member * Participant in cultural discourse * Decision maker * Customer, museum patron, artist, critic| Models  of  Disability There are 2 main  models  of  disability: the  Medical  Model  and the  Social  Model. The Medical  Model Under the Medical  Model, disabled people are  defined by their illness or medical condition. The Medical  Model  regards  disability  as an individual problem. It promotes the view  of  a disabled person as dependent and needing to be cured or cared for, and justifies the way in which disabled people have been systematically excluded from society. The disabled person is the problem, not society. Control resides firmly with professionals; choices for the individual are limited to the options provided and approved by the helping expert. The Medical  Model  is best summarised by referring to the International Classification  of  Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps developed by the World Health Organisation in  1980. The classification makes the following distinctions: Impairment  is ‘any loss or abnormality  of  psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function’. Disability  is ‘any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment)  of  ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being’. Diagram  of  Medical  Model The Medical  Model  focuses on what a person can’t do: Impairment| Disability| A wheelchair user| cannot climb the stairs or walk to the shops| A partially sighted person| cannot read information in ‘standard’ size print| A person with an acquired brain injury| cannot speak as quickly as other people| People with disabilities have generally rejected this  model. They say it has led to their low self esteem, undeveloped life skills, poor education and consequent high unemployment levels. Above all, they have recognised that the Medical  Modelrequires the breaking  of  natural relationships with their families, communities and society as a  whole. The Social  Model During the 1960’s and 1970’s newly formed groups  of  disabled people started to challenge the way in which they were treated and regarded within society. Alternative definitions  of  impairment and  disability  were developed and formed the basis  of  what is known as the Social  Model. Impairment  is the functional limitation within the individual caused by physical, mental or sensory impairment. Disability  is the loss or limitation  of  opportunities to take part in the normal life  ofthe community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers. (Barnes, 1994:2) Disability  is no longer seen as an individual problem but as a social issue caused by policies, practices, attitudes and/or the environment. For example, a wheelchair user may have a physical impairment but it is the absence  of  a ramp that prevents them from accessing a building. In other words, the disabling factor is the inaccessible environment. The disabled peoples movement believes the cure to the problem  of  disability  lies in the restructuring  of  society. Unlike medically based cures, that focus on individuals and their impairment, this is an achievable goal and to the benefit  ofeveryone. This approach suggests that disabled peoples individual and collective disadvantage is due to a complex form  of  institutional discrimination as fundamental to our society as sexism, racism or homophobia. The social  model  focuses on ridding society  of  barriers, rather than relying on ‘curing’ people  who  have impairments.