Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
Introduction
This session is to help learners to become aware of
the two main models of disability: the ‘Medical Model’
and the ‘Social Model’. To identify the differences
between the two models and to gain knowledge and
confidence to promote the Social Model of Disability,
personally, and in their volunteering and work practice.
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
Aims:
• To promote an understanding of the
Social Model of Disability
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
Objectives:
• Be aware of the two main models of disability
• Identify the differences between the two models
• Gain knowledge and confidence to promote the
Social Model of Disability
• Gain knowledge and confidence to use the Social
Model of Disability in your volunteering and work
practice
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
What is a model?
A model is a way of thinking about things!
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
How many models of disability can you name?
Answers revealed at end of session
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
QUIZ
Fill in the answers
to the following
questions.
Once the session
has ended you
will be asked to
do the same quiz
again and then
compare your
answers.
Name:
1
Disability is caused by society in which we live and is not the ‘fault’ of
an individual disabled person.
2
Defines people by their illness and not as individuals.
3
It justifies the way in which disabled people have been excluded from
society.
4
5
6
7
8
Barriers that prevent any individual playing a part in society are the
problem, not the individual.
Thinks of disabled people as dependent and needing to be cured or
cared for.
Disabled people are disempowered by this model.
Disability is the product of the physical, organisational and attitudinal
barriers present within society.
The disabled person is the problem - not society.
9
Takes account of disabled people as part of our economic,
environmental and cultural society.
10
The devaluing of disabled people through negative images in the
media
Medical
Social
Why is it important to think
about the social model!
• Because Person Centred thinking came from the social
model thinking!
• Personalisation is about looking at what the person
wants in their life!
• Disabled people had to fight very hard to live lives not
controlled by others!
Who are Disabled people?
• Disabled people are just people who face barriers in
their lives!
• Disabled people are people that sometimes need
support to live their lives!
Looking at disability from
different viewpoints
• Different people and cultures have different viewpoints
about disabled people
• Some see disabled people as an object of pity
Looking at disability from
different viewpoints
• Some see disabled people as less of a human being
• Some think disabled people are useless for society
• Some see disabled people as not normal
• Some see disabled as special
• Some see disabled people as scroungers
Exercise
• What is disability and how do you explain it?
• Split into 2 or 3 groups
• Discuss this for 10 minutes and share your views with the
whole group
• Make a list of important words and sentences
Two conflicting viewpoints
of disability
There are two very different ideas or (models) about
disability
• ‘The medical or individual model’ of disability
• ‘The social model of disability’
Dave Lupton is a disabled cartoonist. His writing
name is “Crippen” and he uses cartoons to highlight
disability issues. He has his own website which can be
found at: http://www.crippencartoons.co.uk/
This is what the medical
model of disability says
• You are the problem.
• Your disability needs curing.
• You can't make decisions about your life.
• You need professionals to look after you.
• You can never be as equal as a non-disabled person.
Medical model definitions
• Impairments - any loss or abnormality (not normal) of
psychological (brain and mind), physiological (body and
organs) or body structure or function (how the body works
or looks).
• Disability – is the lack of ability to perform daily activities
of living in a way that is seen as “normal”.
‘Confined to a
wheelchair or
wheelchair
‘bound’
He or she is
the problem
Can’t get around
because they are
disabled
Is a burden
Is sick
Is housebound
Needs a doctor
Needs a cure
Can’t walk
Needs
institutional care
Medical model says that
the impairment or
condition is the problem!
How the medical
model thinking may
affect your life
A cure, therapy, drugs
or surgery
A restricted life.
Sometimes not being
able to function as
“normal”
Assume individuals
cannot manage
Separate education or
employment
Individual becomes the
patient = powerless
Separated from society
Special transport
Has little autonomy –
being able to choose for
themselves
What is the social
model of disability?
The social model of disability was constructed by us –
disabled people.
• The social model of disability identifies barriers, negative
attitudes and exclusion by society (on purpose or not).
This means that society is the main cause of disability.
Social model definitions
• Impairment is something to do with your body, or mind
but it is not disability.
• Disability is a loss or limitation of opportunity to take part
in every day life of the community on an equal basis with
others due to physical or social barriers. -DPI 1981
Breaking down barriers!
Exercise
• What are barriers?
• Split into 2 or 3 groups
• Discuss this for 10 minutes and share your views with the
whole group. Think about how barriers can be changed.
• Make a list of important words and sentences
Barriers
• Think about what you have been told about Disability
• Changing your environment – what could be done?
• Other people’s attitudes – what are they?
• How organisations are structured – how could they help?
• Economic
Social barriers
can include
Social Model of
Disability
Society is the
problem, setting
up barriers for
disabled people
causing dependency,
discrimination and
limited opportunity
These barriers could
be physical;
Informational; in
attitudes…
Solutions
• Legislation – Equality
Act
• Change people’s
attitudes
• Accessible buildings,
transport,
Inclusive education,
employment, leisure
Results
• Disabled people have
independence, choice
and control
• General public respect
and value disabled people
With thanks to ‘Crippen’ for his
cartoons in return for a donation to
his charity of choice.
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
QUIZ
Fill in the answers
to the following
questions.
Once the session
has ended you
will be asked to
do the same quiz
again and then
compare your
answers.
Name:
1
Disability is caused by society in which we live and is not the ‘fault’ of
an individual disabled person.
2
Defines people by their illness and not as individuals.
3
It justifies the way in which disabled people have been excluded from
society.
4
5
6
7
8
Barriers that prevent any individual playing a part in society are the
problem, not the individual.
Thinks of disabled people as dependent and needing to be cured or
cared for.
Disabled people are disempowered by this model.
Disability is the product of the physical, organisational and attitudinal
barriers present within society.
The disabled person is the problem - not society.
9
Takes account of disabled people as part of our economic,
environmental and cultural society.
10
The devaluing of disabled people through negative images in the
media
Medical
Social
Quiz Answers
A/
B
1
2
3
4
Name:
Disability is caused by society in
which we live and is not the ‘fault’ of
an individual disabled person.
Defines people by their illness and
not as individuals.
It justifies the way in which disabled
people have been excluded from
society.
Medical Social
X
X
X
Barriers that prevent any individual
playing a part in society are the
problem, not the individual.
Thinks of disabled people as
dependent and needing to be cured
or cared for.
X
6
Disabled people are disempowered
by this model.
X
7
Disability is the product of the
physical, organisational and
attitudinal barriers present within
society.
5
8
The disabled person is the problem not society.
9
Takes account of disabled people as
part of our economic, environmental
and cultural society.
10 The devaluing of disabled people
through negative images in the media
X
X
X
X
X
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
How many models of disability can you name?
Understanding the
Social Model of Disability
There are several models of Disability:
• The Medical Model of Disability
• The Social Model of Disability
• The Expert or Professional Model of Disability
• The Tragedy and/or Charity Model of Disability
• The Moral Model of Disability
• The Legitimacy Model of Disability
• The Empowering Model of Disability
• The Social Adapted Model of Disability
• The Economic Model of Disability
• The Market Model of Disability
• The Spectrum Model of Disability
Where did social model
thinking come from?
In 1975, the UK organisation Union of the Physically
Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) claimed : "In our
view it is society which disables physically impaired
people”.
Disability is something imposed on top of our impairments
by the way some disabled people are isolated from every
day society.
What is the social
model of disability?
The social model of disability recognises that people
with impairments are dis-abled because of the way
society is set out
• Mike Oliver, an academic first used the phrase
• The social model of disability is a reaction to the dominant
medical model of disability
Aims and objectives
Aims:
• To promote an understanding of the Social Model of
Disability
Objectives:
• Be aware of the two main models of disability
• Identify the differences between the two models
• Gain knowledge and confidence to promote the Social
Model of Disability
• Gain knowledge and confidence to use the Social Model of
Disability in your volunteering and work practice