Disability Education: The Social Model

Does an individual have impairment because of physical abnormalities, or is an individual impaired by the society in which they live?  Mike Oliver, a contemporary disability advocate and University of Greenwich Emeritus Professor, first articulated this distinction.  His theory, named the Social Model of Disability, is a response to the Medical Model of Disability, the long held belief that individuals are primarily impaired by their physical bodies.  It is very important to understand these two divergent ideologies and the way they have shaped disability awareness and policy.

Medical Model of Disability

The Medical Model of Disability asserts that “disability results from an individual person’s physical or mental limitations,” (i).  This model views the ability of the body as being indicative of the overall ability of the individual.

Social Model of Disability

The Social Model of Disability states that certain societal barriers cause a person with impaired psychological or physiological impairments to be disabled (ii).  Outside of societal contexts, the individual is functional in their own individual way.  When framed within societal contexts, however, the individual is categorized as disabled because of their perceived inability to function within that society in a capacity that is labeled normal by the majority.

Moving Forward:  Changing Attitudes with the Social Model

When contrasting these models of disability, it is important to consider their implications on both society and individuals with disabilities.  Business professionals, particularly, need to be attentive to the difference; an organization is comparable to a subset of a society, and employees with disabilities are the individuals most affected by these differing attitudes.

Generally, the Social Model is preferable.  The Social Model of Disability recognizes the intrinsic value of the individual, instead of labeling them is disabled in virtue of having abnormal mental or physical abilities.  The latter breeds a negative stereotype, characterizing all individuals with disabilities and people who are disabled because their abilities are different compared to the majority.

Disability education programs that teach the Social Model emphasize that society has the power to limit the ability of individuals.  Disability education productscan be used in conjunction with the Social Model, helping employees to identify the stereotypes they hold towards others so they may be discredited and overcome.  Promoting the Social Model of Disability is instrumental in workplaces with an eclectic mix of individuals and represent a strong complement to any dsability training initiative.

(i)  http://www.copower.org/leader/models.htm#medical
(ii)  http://www.brainhe.com/TheSocialModelofDisabilityText.html