Theoretical Models of Disability

Question 1

What is the Medical Model?

Answer 1

Viewing disability as a problem of the person, directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health condition which therefore requires sustained medical care and treatment.

Question 2

What is the main method of disability management through the Medical Model?

Answer 2

Curing the disability, or the individuals’ adjustment and behavioral change that would lead to an ‘effective cure.’

Question 3

What would be the political response from the Medical Model’s standpoint?

Answer 3

Modifying or reforming health care policy

Question 4

What are the strengths of the Medical Model?

Answer 4

Addresses the biological sources of disabilities through curing or management of conditions.

Question 5

What are 4 weaknesses of the Medical Model?

Answer 5

• Treats disability as a problem or inherent characteristic of the individual
• Overlooks issues caused by unwelcoming or inaccessible environments
• People with disabilities often report feeling excluded, undervalued and pressured to fit a “norm” or treated as if they are incapacitated
• People with disabilities feel frustration with attitudes of pity, or incredulity when speaking about positives of living with their conditions.

Question 6

What is the Social Model?

Answer 6

Sees the issue of disability as a socially created problem and a matter of the full integration of individuals into society.

Question 7

What are the two main methods of disability management through the Social Model?

Answer 7

Social action, and is the collective responsibility of society at large to make the environmental modifications necessary for the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of social life.

It also focuses on changing the attitudes towards disabilities.

Question 8

What would be the political response from the Social Model’s standpoint?

Answer 8

Providing Civil Rights protections for people with disabilities.

Question 9

What is a strength of the Social Model?

Answer 9

Societies can improve lives of people by ensuring the world is designed to accommodate a wide range of human characteristics and abilities.

Question 10

What are two weaknesses of the Social Model?

Answer 10

Can downplay the embodied aspects of disabilities, as if disability has nothing to do with bodily characteristics at all.

This model’s political push for social justice can sometimes also create political adversaries.

Question 11

What is the Biopsychosocial Model?

Answer 11

Accounts for both the social and biomedical models of disability, suggesting that to understand a person’ medical condition one needs to consider biological, psychological, and social factors.

Question 12

What is a strength of the Biopsychosocial Model?

Answer 12

Used in situations related to rehabilitation where a rehab team would integrate both aspects to develop a support intervention that accounts for both a person’s medical and social situation.

Question 13

What is a weakness of the Biopsychosocial Model?

Answer 13

The classification is complex, which could lead to difficulties in implementation.

Question 14

What is the Economic Model?

Answer 14

Defines disability by a person’s inability to participate in work. It also assesses the degree to which impairment affects an individual’s productivity and the economic consequences for the individual, employer, and the state. It is used by policymakers in the context of determining and assessing disability benefits.

Question 15

What is a strength of the Economic Model?

Answer 15

Recognizes the effect of bodily limitations on a person’s ability to work, and that may require economic support and/or accommodations for the person’s disability.

Question 16

What are two weaknesses of the Economic Model?

Answer 16

Creates a legally defined category of people who are needy, which can be stigmatizing.

Also, if a person does not meet the legal “disabled” threshold, the person may not receive the support they need.

Question 17

What is the Functional Solutions Model?

Answer 17

A practical perspective that identifies limitations due to disability, with the intent to create and promote solutions to overcome those limitations through technological or methodological innovation.

Question 18

What is a strength of the Functional Solutions Model?

Answer 18

This model is results oriented. It seeks to solve real-world challenges based on providing services.

Question 19

What are 3 weaknesses of the Functional Solutions Model?

Answer 19

Profit-driven technology entrepreneurs can sometimes miss the mark, creating products that may be innovative, but not useful or practical.

Can be of more benefit to the innovators than to the target population (especially if expensive).

A narrow focus on technology may lead to missed opportunities in cases where social, political, and environmental aspects ought to be considered for a solution.

Question 20

What is the Social Identity or Cultural Affiliation Model?

Answer 20

Refers to a sense of personal identity derived from membership within a group of like-minded individuals. This model is most evident among the Deaf community.

Question 21

What is a strength of the Social Identity or Cultural Affiliation Model?

Answer 21

Accepts the person’s disability completely and uses it as a point of pride in associating with other people in a similar condition.

Question 22

What is a weakness of the Social Identity or Cultural Affiliation Model?

Answer 22

The sense of belonging felt within a group of people can alienate or exclude people who don’t fit the group’s expectations.

Question 23

What is the Charity Model?

Answer 23

Regards people with disabilities as unfortunate and in need of outside help. People providing charity are viewed as benevolent contributors to a needy population.

Question 24

What is a strength of the Charity Model?

Answer 24

It can inspire people to contribute their time and/or resources to provide help when it is genuinely needed.

Question 25

What are 2 weaknesses of the Charity Model?

Answer 25

It can be condescending toward people with disabilities, and depends on cultivating pity.

It also focuses on short-term, immediate needs at the expense of more comprehensive and ultimately more effective long-term solutions.