02 Theoretical Models of Disability

Question 1

What is the medical model?

Answer 1

The medical model defines disability in terms of biological impairments.
- It is caused by a disorder, disease, trauma, health condition
- It is seen as diminishing quality of life
- It is viewed as needing treatment or medical care.

Question 2

What are the strengths of the medical model?

Answer 2

• Acknowledges a medical condition that places an individual at a disadvantage compared to others.
• Clear biological criteria help make decisions about treatments or who might need gov’t assistance.
• Allows for cures or managing of a disability.

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of the medical model?

Answer 3

• Overlooks the impact of design of environment on people with disabilities.
• Assigns disability as a characteristic of a person, which stigmatizes them as different or “less than”
• Some people who don’t meet a narrow medical definition are denied benefits or services
• Adds bureaucracy and difficulty - having to always demonstrate a disability is time consuming and dehumanizing

Question 4

What is the social model?

Answer 4

• Response to medical model.
• Society creates disabling conditions.
• Disability is caused by poor design.
• Emphasizes human rights of people with disabilities to participate in society in meaningful ways.

Question 5

What are the strengths of the social model?

Answer 5

• Empowers people with disabilities.
• Removes the stigma associated with a physical impairment.
• Expectation is that society will create inclusive environments.
• People with disabilities don’t have to conform to a lower quality of life because they do not conform to what is considered “normal”
• Encourages designers to think broadly about usability for humans of all abilities
• Society can improve the lives of people with disabilities by designing to accommodate a wide range of human characteristics and abilities

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of the social model?

Answer 6

• Can downplay the embodied aspects of disability (as if disability has nothing to do with physical characteristics at all)
• Push for social justice can put activists at odds with people of other political interests (can be antagonizing)
• A disability is an important part of one’s identity and it should not be minimized to the point of being afraid to talk about it
• Accepting and “owning” one’s disability is healthy from both an emotional and psychological perspective

Question 7

What is the biopsychosocial model?

Answer 7

• Recognizes the complexity of disability
• Incorporates perspectives of the medical and social models

Question 8

What is the economic model?

Answer 8

• Views disabilities from the perspective of the economic impact of the disability on individuals, employers, the state, and welfare programs.

Question 9

What are the strengths of the economic model?

Answer 9

• Recognizes the impact of disability on the economy
• Recognizes that disabilities impact people’s ability to work, which means that a person may earn less, need assistance, have less profit for a company
• People with disabilities can influence the market by choosing to not spend their money with certain businesses, for example, or by protesting businesses that are not disability-friendly.
• Money and economic incentives can be a driving force for change.

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of the economic model?

Answer 10

• Creates a sense of stigma - people with disabilities may be seen as “needy”.
• Many people have disabilities that significantly impact their ability to work, but they do not meet the legal definition of having a disability and therefore do not qualify for various assistance programs.

Question 11

What is the functional solutions model?

Answer 11

• Takes a practical approach to disability
• Focus on applying innovation to overcome the limitations of disability
• First, identify the functional impairments, or limitations, that are a result of disability
• Second, find solutions for eradicating these limitations through advancements in technology or methodology.

Question 12

What are the strengths of the functional solutions model?

Answer 12

• Focus on results that benefit people with disabilities.
• No time wasted on theory and focus on solutions. Build accessible environments and get things done.

Question 13

What are the weaknesses of the functional solutions model?

Answer 13

• Tech may not solve all problems that result from social and environmental barriers to people with disabilities.
• Solutions may be expensive and exclusive.
• If accessibility professionals are too focused on creating practical technological solutions, they may miss opportunities to address the larger social context.
• Sometimes addressing the larger social context works so well that it can make a specific technological solution obsolete.

Question 14

What is the social identity or cultural affiliation model?

Answer 14

• People with disabilities may develop a sense of personal identity through consorting with others who share similar life experiences based on their disability.
• Together, the group develops a sense of culture based on these shared experiences.

Question 15

What are the strengths of the cultural affiliation model?

Answer 15

• Fully accepting one’s disability can be an important part of one’s emotional and psychological well-being
• Having support network of friends with disabilities is valuable
• People with disabilities can gain political strength by forming alliances and advocacy networks
• Accepts a person’s disability completely
• There is pride in being associated with people in a similar condition

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of the cultural affiliation model?

Answer 16

• Some feel excluded if they don’t meet the group’s expectations

Question 17

What is the charity or tragedy model?

Answer 17

• Treats disabilities as unfortunate or tragic conditions worthy of special treatment.
• People without disabilities take pity on those with disabilities and set up fundraisers, projects, assistance, and other interventions to improve the condition of those with disabilities.

Question 18

What are the strengths of the charity or tragedy model?

Answer 18

• Creates empathy and inspires others to assist people with disabilities.

Question 19

What are the weaknesses of the charity or tragedy model?

Answer 19

• Condescending towards people with disabilities
• Pities people with disabilities and they are seen as in need of help
• Focuses on short-term and immediate needs - at the expense of longer-term solutions
• Encourages unequal social and political relationships between people, which can actually slow down progress for people with disabilities as a whole

Question 20

What is the affirmation model?

Answer 20

• Similar to the social identity or cultural affiliation model
• Encourages people with disabilities to affirm their identity, to feel comfortable in their own skin, to celebrate their physical identity and disability

Question 21

What is the sociopolitical model?

Answer 21

• Activist model that emphasizes the need for human rights for people with disabilities.

Question 22

What is the religious or moral model?

Answer 22

• Disabilities are given to people as a punishment for actions of either the individual herself or of her parents or others who have brought this condition upon her.
• If a disability is not seen as a punishment, it may be regarded as a condition given by God to teach a lesson or to test the person.

Question 23

What is the expert or professional model?

Answer 23

• Variation of the medical model
• Disabilities are meant to be treated and managed by people with expertise and credentials

Question 24

What is the rehabilitation model?

Answer 24

• Variation of the medical model
• Emphasis on therapy or rehabilitation for the person with a disability