The Social Constructionist Approach And Biological Model Of Disability

The Medical Model regards disability as an individual problem. It promotes a traditional view of disability, that it is something to be ‘cured’, even though many conditions have no cure. The problem is seen as the disabled person and their impairment, not society, and the solution is seen as adapting the disabled person to fit the non-disabled world, often through medical intervention. Control resides firmly with professionals; choices for the individual are limited to the options provided and approved by the 'helping' expert.

The social model suggests that it is the steps that are the issue not the wheelchair, as it is the steps which are disabling the person access, which is seen as a barrier. This model suggests that it is society disabling people through designing everything to meet the needs of the majority of people, who are not disabled. The social model believe that there is a great deal that society can do to reduce and ultimately remove, some of the barriers. This task is the responsibility of society rather then the person, as far as is reasonably practical – which by if it is a big organisation and it is financially possible and financially beneficial, then it would make sense to adapt and make provisions for disabled people to have access for example, wider doors,

The social model of disability which views discrimination and prejudice as being embedded in today’s society, their attitudes and their surrounding environment.

Disability in a socio-cultural context can be defined as "a barrier to participation of people with impairments or chronic illnesses arising from an interaction of the impairment or illness with discriminatory attitudes, cultures, policies or institutional practices" (Booth, 2000). The traditional view of disability often focuses on the individual, highlighting incapacities or failings, a defect, or impairment. This focus creates obstacles to participation on equal terms since an individual who seems to lack certain capacities may not be able to attain autonomy.

Social model of disability was thought out by people with impairments and disability campaigners ,who soon came to realise that in fact it is society and the lack of enabling

Disability does not predispose an individual to weakness, dependence, decreased mental capacity, or inability to understand and provide for one’s own healthcare. Promoting independence, education, and knowledge provides a disabled person with the tools to live their lives fully within the limits of their disability. This also includes their right to accept or deny treatment.

The medical model focuses more on the problem and not the person, so the problem would be things such as the disabilities and impairments rather than the needs of the person. The medical model thinks the way to solve the disability would be through things such as surgery, physio etc. If people who follow the medical model think that that a medical cure is not possible then they could exclude someone with a disability from a normal day to day activities or they could be shut way from society in a specialized institution or could even be isolated at home. This could lead to all different kinds of problems as only their basic needs are being met. Under the medical model a medical professional has significant responsibility and potential for helping disabled people. The medical model mostly has negative views relating to people with a disability unlike the social model which normally has positive views. People who work under the medical model think of people with a disability as spongers and that they need someone to do everything for them. "The medical model of disability sees the disabled person as the problem - the focus is on the impairment, rather than removing the barriers which effect the person" (children in wales). The people who work under the medical model sees that a person with a disability needs to be adapted to fit into society unlike the social model which will adapt society so people with a disability will fit in and have more independence. The medical model

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) disability is defined as, the loss of anatomical functions, resulting in experiencing difficulties when carrying out everyday activities of daily living and encountering problems when trying to participate in activities: disability can also be as a result of the individual impairment or disability that restrict them from fully interacting with society (WHO, 2001).

Base on the statistical model, it says that those who belong in greater number are part of the norm and those who have the least number are considered abnormal, different or have disabilities. Thus, when a person has physical problems in their body functioning, they are considered outside the norm and have disabilities as describe by the elitist model. People could have disabilities because of congenital diseases from prenatal complications or they could acquire it after birth. However, nature actually has no concept of disability. It does not exist. Disability is just a concept. It is the model that we use such as the statistical model, elitist medical model, and biological model that believes a person to have disabilities. All in all, people

The biomedical and social factors that shape the experience of disability is different for everyone. For those who were born with a disability, their adjustment to the limitations they experience, will be unlike the person who experienced a disability later in life. Though the moment of disability will always be remembered for its life altering effect; nonetheless, it is the perceived limitations, of the individual, that will determine their view of themselves in a world where a person with a disability is not always seen as competent.

A physical or mental condition that limits a person 's movements, senses, or activities; a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law, is the definition of disability. The definition of incapacitation is highly contentious for several

The social model is more inclusive in approach. Pro-active thought is given to how disabled

Discuss the levels of inequality or disadvantage encountered by disability in modern British Society. Approximately 8.5 million people in the United Kingdom are registered disabled (Office of National Statistics 2002 cited in Giddens 2006:287). Definitions of disability is important to the way in which its nature is investigated and also to its extent in society. This essay will illustrate the broad definitions of disability and the dissimilarity between disability and impairment.

This paper will discuss the definition of normal and how it has changed in time; one thing that remains the same is how the meaning has revolutionized our present society. Statisticians and eugenicists Adolphe Quetelet, Sir Francis Galton, Charles Darwin, and Madame Bovary have provided statistical data to support what the meaning stands for and how it came into existence whether in agreement or apprehension on the matter. People with disabilities have been in the mix of dealing with the controversial laws and theories that have preceded them. In the book the disability studies reader the different approaches used to create the meaning of normal as part of the human body are argued in America and Europe.

In the world of disability, the bureaucratic model is the most important, deciding what disability is and how it should be treated in society. Within this model of disability, the bureaucracy, such as office workers, doctors, and administrators, is given the power to decide the fate of disability. Its origins are in the medical model, though it has developed through the social and civil rights models as well. Its milestones include broad, sweeping legislation like the Civil War Draft laws, the social Darwinist legislation, and the ADAAA. With these legislative acts, the bureaucracy is given power through their duty of enforcement. The strengths and drawbacks are both present in the model, but ultimately, the most significant issue of the model is its ability to let everyday people determine the incredibly complex definition of “disability.”