02 Theoretical Models of Disability Flashcards
1
Q
What is the medical model?
A
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.
2
Q
What are the strengths of the medical model?
A
- 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.
3
Q
What are the weaknesses of the medical model?
A
- 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
4
Q
What is the social model?
A
- 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.
5
Q
What are the strengths of the social model?
A
- 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
6
Q
What are the weaknesses of the social model?
A
- 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
7
Q
What is the biopsychosocial model?
A
- Recognizes the complexity of disability
- Incorporates perspectives of the medical and social models
8
Q
What is the economic model?
A
- Views disabilities from the perspective of the economic impact of the disability on individuals, employers, the state, and welfare programs.
9
Q
What are the strengths of the economic model?
A
- 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.
10
Q
What are the weaknesses of the economic model?
A
- 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.
11
Q
What is the functional solutions model?
A
- 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.
12
Q
What are the strengths of the functional solutions model?
A
- Focus on results that benefit people with disabilities.
- No time wasted on theory and focus on solutions. Build accessible environments and get things done.
13
Q
What are the weaknesses of the functional solutions model?
A
- 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.
14
Q
What is the social identity or cultural affiliation model?
A
- 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.
15
Q
What are the strengths of the cultural affiliation model?
A
- 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
