Social Model of Disability

According to the medical model of

disability,

the word disabled means less able

less able to achieve your potential less

able to have meaningful relationships

less able to play an active part in the

world around you

and that this is just your bad luck

this outdated view of the world puts the

responsibility of overcoming disabling

barriers

on the person with an impairment but

this idea is changing

the more modern social model of

disability says that a person doesn't

have a disability

that they are disabled they are disabled

by society

it is the attitudes and physical

barriers imposed on them by society that

prevents them from achieving their

potential

the social model was developed by

disabled people and their allies

to help them take action against

discrimination,

and to empower people to find solutions

remove barriers and campaign together

for equality and human rights.

They showed how people with lots of

different impairments face many of the

same problems.

these disabling barriers include

prejudiced opinions and attitudes,

restricted access, and people being

systematically excluded.

The social model looks for the ways that

society can be planned and organized

in order to provide accessibility

independence and opportunity

in a way that enables people rather than

disables them.

What we learn from the social model of disability

is that disability is a social construct

created by social barriers.

Barriers which can be eliminated.

We learn that it is the responsibility

of government, public spaces

businesses and individual people to make

the changes

to increase the access and build a more

equal society

where everyone has the opportunity to

reach their full potential.