Although I would ultimately like this blog to become a place where my own views and thoughts of what i’m studying is what is being written here, the first few things i’m going to post will be a little more academic. I will need to offer some terms and definitions and theories to people who may be reading this with no background knowledge to disability studies, and people who may read what what i’m writing about later on as the blog progresses. Hopefully later on, the posts will be a lot easier to read and will resembe opinions rather than essays to allow anyone who reads to comment without having to read further into the subject if they don’t want to.
Medical Model of Disability
The medical model of disability is one that is primarily concerned with the justification of disability. It sees disability purely as a problem of the individual, without any discrimination between the impairment faced and the disability itself. “Any economic or social deprivation encountered by disabled people was located within the individual and their impairment.” (Swain et al., 2003)
To put it simply, a disabled person is seen as faulty and in need of fixing or curing. Disabled people are by definition then dependent on others to help them and decide on care/treatment for their disability. Disability is a tragedy, and focusses on what a person cannot do. This results in segregation of disability, giving anyone perceived as different a label due to the fixation of “normality” by society (referring to people by their disability… “he’s a Down’s baby,” “she’s the dwarf”), lack of individual respect and the ignorance of cultural, social and institutional barriers that disabled people face in trying to lead their own independent lives.
Paul Hunt wrote an essay in 1966 arguing that due to society’s treatment of disabled people in the past and society’s high regard for the “normal,” disabled people have felt themselves to be “unfortunate, useless, different, oppressed and sick,” and although this may not be how disabled people actually see themselves, due to the constraints placed upon them, this is how they have been forced to view themselves.
“Unfortunate” because they haven’t had the opportunity to marry, have children and contribute to earning their own money and independence; “Useless” due to their inability to contribute to the economic wealth of society, relying instead on charity and feeling of less worth than the “breadwinner;” Feeling part of a minority and singled out as “different” due to their physical disability against the “stares of the curious;” An overwhelming feeling of “oppression” due to society not allowing the disabled person to challenge its view of them, either through lack of education or through lack of independence; “Sick” compared to people who are relatively healthy, and who’s mortality is challenged by the disabled.
In 1976 The Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) produced a document due to the Guardian’s printing of a letter by Paul Hunt in 1972 calling for the formation of a group that would allow the views of disabled people themselves to be heard. This led to the creation of the Social Model Of Disability. (Shakespeare, 2006)
References:
- Hunt, P. (1966). A Critical Condition. [online]. Available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm [Accessed 07.06.12]
- Shakespeare, T. (2006). Looking Back, Moving Forward. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/columnists/tom/250906_index.shtml [Accessed 12.12.06]
- Swain, J., French, S. and Cameron, C. (2003). Controversial Issues in a Disabling Society. Buckingham: OU Press
Good luck with your new blog. It is really encouraging to see more and more blogs that are covering issues around disability. Southampton Centre for Independent Living, where I work, actively campaigns against the negative and normally incorrect assumptions that are the basis of the medical model of disability.
As you quite rightly say, the medical model has a hugely negative impact on the way Disabled People view themselves and only focusses on the individual rather than examining the wider barriers that exist within society.
Robert – SCIL – Thanks a lot for my first message. I’m a little daunted by this blog if i’m to be honest. Not sure my knowledge is good enough to maintain a lot of posts right now, but I’m going to try my best… if only to do justice to the course and tutors I work under at the moment.
I think you’re right when you say that they are “assumptions.” People often make judgements and decide on their opinions about disability without knowing many of the facts, so if I can at least encourage one person to read more around the subject then i’ll be pleased. I hope you keep in touch. Andy.
This blog is another piece in what’s needed to hash out how disability is studied viewed, discussed and integrated…I think it’s great.
imfunny2 – Thank you so much for the comment. I really don’t know how this site is going to develop over the years, but hopefully it will grow as I progress through the course. Thanks for linking me to yours as well. I’ve done the same.
your blog is brilliant i have to do an assignment on the medical model of disability and its the first thing i read that makes sense to me thanks for your help (“,)
Brill thank u for u r easy understanding
I have been reading your thought on issues covering the medical model or the individual model and i must say that i really share your opinion.Thanks for your contribution.
I have been reading your thought on issues covering the medical model or the individual model and i must say that i really share your opinion especially the consequence it brings to the individual and the special educators.Thanks for your contribution.
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