| The two main models of disability are the Social | | | | it sees people with disabilities as sick and in need of a |
| Model and the Medical Model. There are other models | | | | cure. The Medical Model could never comprehend that |
| of disability, however these two are the most | | | | a 'Person' with a disability may actually be happy with |
| common due to their conflicting opinions of the | | | | their life and their disabilities. |
| disabled person and his or her needs and | | | | It is seen as the 'disabled persons' fault that they |
| responsibilities. | | | | cannot participate to the same levels of those |
| | | | without disabilities. |
| The Social Model Of Disability | | | | The medical model seeks to cure the disability not |
| The Social Model of disability sees the person with a | | | | cure the environment that restricts them from fully |
| disability not the disabled person. Prevention of the | | | | participating. |
| 'Person' with a disability taking an active roll in many | | | | The medical model sees the limitations of that |
| day-to-day events and activities is the result of | | | | persons disabilities and only believes those limitations |
| barriers imposed by sociality. | | | | can be bridged by means of curing the disabled |
| Such barriers are often inaccessible buildings and | | | | person to enable they to fully participate. |
| services as well as inaccessible transport such as | | | | The medical model has also been known as the |
| trains, busses and taxis etc. | | | | 'individual model' as it places the problems and |
| It is the responsibility of society to adapt to meet | | | | restrictions caused by disability firmly in the hands of |
| those needs in the same way society has adapted | | | | the individual. |
| to meet the needs of people without disabilities in | | | | Historical Reasons For Change |
| areas such as getting from A to B on public transport | | | | In the late 1960s the Disabled Income Group (DIG) in |
| to be able to undertake their work commitments or | | | | Britain became one of the largest organisations of |
| a lift to the 18th floor to assist when carrying their | | | | disabled people in the world. This inturn brought us |
| normal day-to-day workload. | | | | what we now know as 'Disability Benefit' an imcome |
| Those people above are not pitied, they are mealy | | | | that helps assist people with disability to meet some |
| assisted. People with disabilities are not looking for | | | | of the extra cost needed in partisipating to a fuller |
| pity, they are simply seeking the same assistance | | | | degree. |
| from society to be able to achieve as near as | | | | What this achieved more than anything else was to |
| possible the same results. | | | | show that it was Society that was retricting people |
| The Social Model of disability seeks to assist people | | | | with disabilities not the person themselves. |
| with disabilities by changing the environment in which | | | | Not unexpectedly there was criticism of the new |
| they live, work, and play, they see the problems that | | | | radical approach to disability, this of course came |
| society have placed in their way and appreciate the | | | | from the Medical Models ideas of disability and how |
| need for campaign to cure society not cure the | | | | they should be approached or hidden away from |
| person. | | | | society rather than activly taking part. |
| This approach being a positive approach that does | | | | Thankfully we have now moved on so that the |
| not blame the disability is of great benefit in achieving | | | | majority of people relate to disability throught the |
| the feeling of inclusion in society instead of exclusion. | | | | eyes of the Social Model and can see that society |
| The Medical Model Of Disability | | | | must change to meet their needs. |
| The medical model of disability see the 'disability first, | | | | |