The purpose of this article is to provide a short introduction to the various models of disability that have shaped and continue to shape how we interact with people with disabilities and with the concept of disability itself. This is not a comprehensive list of all models of disability, nor does this provide a comprehensive view of each model.
The Medical Model of Disability
The medical model is heavily focused on the individual and their diagnosis. It posits that having a disability reduces the quality of life, and that as a society we should invest in resources to correct or cure illness or disability, i.e. we should manage disabilities medically. The medical model considers disability to be an individual characteristic; assistive technology is used to fix the disability and allow the person to have a more “normal” life and exist in society in the same way as non-disabled people. This leads to technology such as cochlear implants and standing wheelchairs, which address a disability on the individual level (as opposed to on a societal level).
The Social Model of Disability
The social model believes that the interaction of the individual with physical, social, and cultural systems is what creates the disability; in other words, “what makes someone disabled is not their medical condition, but the attitudes and structures of society”1. This model is focused on removing systemic barriers and social exclusion. The social model makes a distinction between an impairment and a disability; impairments are the attributes, or lack of attributes, that affect a person, while disability refers to the restrictions caused by an inaccessible society. For example, in the social model, an impairment might be the inability to walk, but the disability is the lack of a ramp or elevator. The social model views eliminating disability as a societal change (as opposed to an individual one). The idea is that if physical, social, and cultural systems were accessible for people with impairments, then they would not be disabled.
The Identity Model of Disability
While still emerging, the identity model views disability as part of an intersectional and diverse identity. It emphasizes identity-first language and encourages people to embrace disabilities as part of their identity. This model incorporates many aspects from the social model, including a heavy emphasis on demanding equal access from society.
The Charity Model of Disability
The charity model is rooted in a false or misguided sense of compassion. It pities disabled people, who are viewed as helpless victims of their circumstances. The charity model was very popular prior to the advent of modern medicine as its goal was to remove the stigma that someone is at fault for their disability (e.g. that God was punishing the person or their family), but it is extremely harmful and limiting to disabled people today.
What does DSO believe?
Disability Services at Olin (DSO) primarily ascribes to the social and identity-based models of disability. We prioritize the individual as the expert in their own experience, that a diagnosis is not a necessary aspect of having a disability, and that you must consider the physical, social and cultural context when discussing any disability. We believe that disability=diversity and that an important part of the job of DSO is to support students in their own understanding of their identity around disability. We value the history and legal protections for which those with disabilities have fought and earned. We also appreciate and recognize the utility of the medical perspective in understanding some aspects of disability, though we distinguish this from using a medical model of disability.