Quote

„It is not individual limitations, of whatever kind, which are the cause of the problem but society's failure to provide appropriate services and adequately ensure the needs of disabled people are fully taken into account in its social organization.“ (Oliver M. 1990, p. 3)

„The problem arises when doctors try to use their knowledge and skills to treat disability rather than illness. Disability as a long-term social state is not treatable and is certainly not curable. Hence many disabled people experience much medical intervention as, at best, inappropriate, and, at worst, oppression.“ (Oliver M. 1990, p. 4)

Two aims of this chapter:

The aim of this chapter is to introduce you to physical disabilities and to get to know different models of disability with a special attention to individual and  social model. At the end of the class, you will be able to describe the difference between the medical and social-cultural perspective on disability. The two diagrams below represent different ways of looking at disability. The main difference is what you see in the center of the diagram.  

After you read the main study text of this chapter visiting these two links:

• https://ukdhm.org/a4-activity-on-traditional-medical-social-models-of-disability/ 
• https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/disability-in-london/social-model/the-social-model-of-disability-and-the-cultural-model-of-deafness/ 
  

Talk with or write to your colleague and discuss the following:

What is your attitude toward disability? Have you ever met someone with a physical disablity? Have you had a conversation together or any other contact? Are you a supporter of medical or a social perspective?

Homework

Make a one page outline from your discussion on disability issues and submit it as a homework to the homework vault below. chapter.