Medical Model Vs. Social Model

25 percent of adults are disabled in the United States (CDC). This means that 25% of the people you interact with have some disability. Having a disability is one of the only minority groups you can become a part of at any point in time, meaning this issue concerns you even if it doesn’t seem to right now. Investing your time into creating a more accessible world benefits your future self. 

 The Social Model of disability is focused on the actual disabled person and changing society to support their needs. This encourages people to be confident and comfortable in their identity and use the resources available to them to move about society. 

The Medical Model of disability views “disability as resulting from a person’s physical or mental limitations, and is not connected to the social or geographical environments” (Accessible Education Center). In other words, disabled people should fend for themselves and be cured to act normal in society.

The Medical Model of disability is neglectful and extremely harmful to the disabled community. The idea of “fending for yourself” leaves people with high support needs behind. This way of thinking promotes a lack of empathy for others. 

Society tells the Disabled Community that they need to change to fit in and be productive members of society when it is the society that needs to change. This includes educating the public, curriculum changes in schools, workshops within businesses, government funding for building renovations, financial aid regarding hospital bills, and enforcement/reevaluation of policies that already exist.