Social Model of Disability
Social model of disability is a civil rights based approach to disability developed by disabled people in the 1970s and 1980s. The Social model of disability rejects the medical idea that the problem lies with the individual disabled person who is damaged, sick and in need of a cure. Instead it puts forward the view that it is the way society is run and organised that is the problem not the individual disabled person.
For example:
- Buildings are built that disabled people cannot get into.
- Information is produced in ways that disabled people cannot use.
- Attitudes and stereotypes about disabled people prevent us from having the same opportunities as non-disabled people.
- Special services are created that keep us segregated and cut off from everybody else.
What is so exciting about this social model of disability is that it shows how we can achieve equality for disabled people; not by medical interventions, miracles or acts of charities but by:
- creating buildings that are accessible
- by producing information in different ways
- by challenging stereotypes and assumptions
- by ending segregated services
- by disabled people, doing for themselves
- by disabled people having full civil rights under the law
