Social model of disability Study Guide

📖 Core Concepts Social Model of Disability – Disability arises from societal barriers (physical, attitudinal, policy) rather than from an individual's impairment. Impairment vs. Disability – Impairment: the actual bodily/mental difference (e.g., blindness). Disability: the restriction on participation caused when society fails to accommodate that difference. Medical Model – Views the body as a machine to be “fixed”; aims to change the individual to fit a norm. Key Principle – Shift the focus from “fixing the person” to removing barriers so people can fully participate. 📌 Must Remember Mike Oliver (1983) coined the term “social model of disability.” Legal Foundations: UK – Equality Act 2010 (reasonable adjustments, indirect discrimination). US – Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 (accessibility, non‑discrimination). Universal Design = design for all users, minimizing the need for special adaptations. Major Criticisms – Over‑emphasis on physical impairments; may under‑play pain/limitations of the impairment itself. Emerging Paradigms – Mad studies & neurodiversity expand the model beyond a “species‑norm” view. 🔄 Key Processes Identify Barrier → Assess Impact → Implement Adjustment Identify: physical (stairs), informational (no braille), attitudinal (stigma). Assess: who is excluded? What activity is blocked? Adjust: ramps, captioning, flexible work hours, policy change. Reasonable Adjustment Workflow (Employment) Job offer → employer may ask about disability only to arrange accommodations → implement adjustment → monitor effectiveness. Universal Design Implementation Principle 1: Equitable Use → design for diverse abilities. Principle 2: Flexibility in Use → multiple ways to accomplish a task. Principle 3: Simple & Intuitive → clear navigation for all. 🔍 Key Comparisons Social Model vs. Medical Model Goal: Change society vs. change the body. Focus: Barriers vs. pathology. Action: Install ramps vs. prescribe surgery. Impairment vs. Disability Impairment: Physical/mental condition (e.g., paraplegia). Disability: Lack of societal accommodation (e.g., no wheelchair‑accessible transport). Reasonable Adjustment vs. “Fix” Adjustment: Modify environment/policy. Fix: Attempt to “cure” or “normalize” the individual. ⚠️ Common Misunderstandings “All disabled people need ramps.” – Not every impairment creates the same barrier; the social model tailors solutions to specific exclusions. “The social model denies pain.” – It acknowledges impairment pain but argues that additional disabling effects stem from societal failure. “Reasonable adjustments are optional.” – Under the Equality Act & ADA, they are legal obligations for employers and service providers. 🧠 Mental Models / Intuition “Barrier‑First Lens” – When you see a problem, first ask “What barrier is stopping participation?” before asking “What is wrong with the person?” “Two‑Step Identity” – Disability identity = (Impairment) + (Experience of disablism) + (Self‑identification). 🚩 Exceptions & Edge Cases Benefit Ties to Impairment Severity – If benefits are linked only to medical severity, people with “minor” impairments but high societal barriers may receive no support. Neurodiversity & Mental Health – Traditional social model may under‑represent non‑physical conditions; neurodiversity studies fill this gap. Cultural Variations – Some societies embed disability differently in law and media; universal design still applies but may need local adaptation. 📍 When to Use Which Policy Design – Use social model language when drafting accessibility legislation; invoke reasonable adjustments for employment contexts. Clinical Settings – Combine medical model (to manage pain/health) with social model (to plan community participation). Business Strategy – Apply universal design for product development; cite economic benefits (higher productivity, market expansion). 👀 Patterns to Recognize Barrier‑Outcome Pattern: “X barrier → Y activity blocked → Z adjustment resolves.” Legal Language Cue: “Reasonable adjustment,” “indirect discrimination,” “reasonable accommodation” → always signals a social‑model‑based requirement. Identity Statements: “I am disabled because society …” → indicates a social model perspective. 🗂️ Exam Traps Trap: Selecting an answer that says “disability = impairment.” – Wrong: conflates impairment with the socially produced disability. Trap: Choosing “medical model is always better for policy.” – Wrong: ignores legal and ethical mandates for societal change. Trap: Assuming “reasonable adjustments are optional goodwill.” – Wrong: they are statutory duties under ADA/Equality Act. Trap: Over‑generalizing “the social model solves all disability issues.” – Wrong: acknowledge its limitations (e.g., mental health, under‑estimation of impairment pain). --- Use this guide for rapid recall: focus on the barrier‑first mindset, legal obligations, and the contrast between changing the person vs. changing society.