Explore Models of Disability

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558 1.1 Explore Models of Disability. Medical Model of Disability: This came about in the 1960’s, with the belief that any problems lie with the person who has the disability. It also states that the person with the disability needs to accommodate society and change to fit in. People were not treated as individuals and had no self-worth as they were not seen as normal. There was a need to try and cure people with disabilities. This model focuses more on the negative attributes of people with disabilities, it highlights that there is a need for care, that people struggle to go out and other things which suggest that disabilities are problems. People with disabilities are left with very little control over their lives according to this approach. All decisions about education, housing and employment etc… were taken out of their hands and decisions were made for them. This invariably meant that people with disabilities were mainly shut away in institutions with no real need for society to change at all. This model implies that disabled people should make the effort to ensure that they don’t cause any inconvenience. Social Model of Disability: This model argues that the problem lies with society, and that there are various social and physical barriers that hinder people with disabilities, therefore disabling them even more. Within the social model, it is recognised that there is a great deal that society can do to reduce some of the barriers. It is a more pro-active inclusive approach and much thought is given as to how disabled people can participate in activities alongside non-disabled people. Professional Model of Disability: This can be seen as an offshoot of the Medical Model. This allows professionals to identify an impairment and its limitations and then take the necessary actions to improve the position of the disabled person. This generally
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