Defining Disability: From a medical model to a social model of disability
The Medical Model
Disability results from an individual person’s physicial or mental limitation.
Definition of disability is related to biology and not the social or geographical environments. Disability is regarded as a defect or sickness.
This model places the source of the problem within the person (intrinsic to the individual) = solutions found by focusing on the person.
The medical model often refers to a disabled person as a victim: this can be very patronizing and offensive.
The Social Model
The Social Model views disability as a consequence of environmental, social and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with an impairment from a maximum participation in society.
This model centers on social barriers that keep persons with a disability from participating actively in all political and social institutions.
This model places the source of the problem on society = solutions must focus on social change and not solely on the individual with the disability.
This model focuses not only on physical or environmental but also other barriers of a social nature such as prejudice, stereotyping…
“Barriers experienced by people with disabilities in society are not necessarily caused by our disabilities, but rather the result of living in a society that is designed by and for non-disabled people”.