There are many different models of disability, along with varying titles and definitions, so it can get confusing. For the purpose of this post, we will be looking at just three of those models…medical, tragedy / charity, and social.
Medical Model
"This disability is a 'problem' in their body that needs to be fixed or managed by medicine and science in order to live a 'normal' life.
Medical model language: includes terms like normal, abnormal, the disabled, the blind, person with disabilities, able-bodied, handicapped, suffering from, special needs, needs, and wheelchair-bound." ~ Understanding Disability (Medical Model) - Drake Music
Tragedy / Charity Model
"The Charity Model is an offshoot of the Medical Model. The base logic is informed by the Medical Model, but expanded into a view of Disability as tragic and pitiable.
According to the Charity Model, a person's disability is a 'problem' in their body and good citizens should feel pity for the disabled person’s tragedy, or inspired by a disabled person's achievements.
Charity Model language, like Medical Model language, includes terms like normal, abnormal, the disabled, the blind, person with disabilities, able-bodied, handicapped, suffering from, special needs, needs, and wheelchair-bound." ~ Understanding Disability (Charity Model) - Drake Music
Social Model
"A person is disabled by society’s placing of barriers to different types of access in all facets of civil and social life through attitudes, the physical environment and institutional norms.
Social model language: disabled person, inclusion, enabled, impairments, access requirements, Disabled." ~ Understanding Disability (Social Model) - Drake Music
Resources
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Understanding Disability - Drake Music
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Models of Disability: Types and Definitions - Disabled World
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Medical & Social Models of Disability - NeuroDiverCity
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QualityRights Toolkit - World Health Organization (WHO)
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QualityRights materials for training, guidance and transformation - World Health Organization (WHO)
