Health

In what ways is an approach which is informed by the social model of disability rather than the medical model, the logical way to meet disabled people’s personal requirements?

Introduction

It is the responsibility of the health and social care workers as well as the social communities as a whole to support the people with disabilities and help them to overcome their disabilities so that they can live normal lives like others in the society (Beckett and Campbell, 2015). The aim of the study is to analyse the social model of disability rather than medical model of disability. Apart from that, the study provides a scope to identify the strategic planning to tackle care of the disabled people in the society and support them to maximise their requirements. It is the responsibility of overall social communities to support the disabled people in the society. There are many people who are disabled as per the social model, not by the medical model of disability and in this regard social support are necessary for the people to overcome their situation and help them to meet their needs and preferences (Barnes, 2014). The study in this regard focuses on the social behaviour of health care where the society plays a crucial role in identifying the disabled people who are socially disabled and not disabled by the medical model of disability.

Social model of disability

According to Beckett and Campbell (2015), the social model of disability indicates that the disability of a particular person is caused by the way society is organised where the person is not disabled by difference or impairment. The society develops a barrier for the person that restricts the choice of life he or she is willing to spend. If the barrier developed by the society can be removed, the person become independent and equal in the society with their choice and control over their own lives (Oliver, 2017; Barnes, 2014). The social model of disability mainly includes the systematic barriers in the society, social isolation and exclusion as well as negative attitude of the social communities towards a particular person on a specific reason (Beckett and Campbell, 2015).

The fundamental aspect of social model of disability is concerned about equality where most of the people are suffering from discrimination in the society for which they are feeling disabled in the society (Owens, 2015a). There are various factors that are useful to understand the social model of disability where the society try to isolate and exclude the person and it is considered as disability by the social model. Lack of inclusion, isolation and negative attitude for a particular person as well as language gap, racism in the society are some of the example for social model of disability where some group of people are excluded from the society (Barnes, 2014). In addition to these, gender discrimination, cultural diversity, poverty, negative media, poor job prospect and ignorance are other factors which cause disabled people by social model of disability (Beckett and Campbell, 2015).

For example, a wheelchair user is willing to enter into the building through its entrance, but as per the social model of disability, there must a ramp which is useful for the wheelchair users. However, the design of the building in this regard is such that a wheelchair user cannot enter into the building. This is called social model of disability where the wheelchair user cannot enter due to absence of the ramp (Milligan and Thomas, 2016). On the other hand, lack of access of the information, protective families and segregated or poor education in the society are other examples of social model of disability where the people are disabled by their impairments but by their society. Changing attitude of the society is one of the important factors that lead to social disability of the people where the other people living in the society do not treat one person equally (Beckett and Campbell, 2015). Hereby, lack of equality in the society, discrimination by age, gender, culture, race and other factors lead to social disability.

Strategies to treat disabled people

As stated by Milligan and Thomas (2016), it is the responsibility of the overall society to treat the patients fairly so that they can overcome the social disability and live normal lives by taking decision of their own lifestyles. First of all, the society needs to change their attitude and behave positively to all the people living in the community. Without positive attitude, it is not possible for the human being to survive in the society (Gallagher, Connor and Ferri, 2014). Social support is the second way to deal their social disability in the country through which the person can deal with the barriers and overcome the challenges for improving their standard of living. There are several rules and laws through which the problem of social exclusion and social disability can be resolved so that it is possible to improve equality in the society and people can live normal lives like others (Beckett and Campbell, 2015).

According to Milligan and Thomas (2016), Disability Discrimination Act is effective to remove discrimination in the society so that people can get equal opportunity to maximise their welfare and standard of living condition. In addition to these, Americans with disability Act 1990 is also another effective law through which it is possible to prohibit discrimination based on disability (Mackelprang and Salsgiver, 2016). Civil Rights Act 1964 is another effective law which can prohibit the discrimination in the society on the basis of race, sex, religion, gender and national origin which are illegal (Levitt, 2017). Equality Act 2010 is also crucial for improving equality in the society where all the people can enjoy equal treatment. In order to manage the disability created by the society, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Disability Rights Commission play a significant role where it is easy to remove the social disability and provide sustainable condition to live better (Beckett and Campbell, 2015).

Promoting social inclusion is necessary to resolve the issue of social exclusion where the people can participate in social events equally (Beckett and Campbell, 2015). It is also necessary to invest in education system so that the students can improve their knowledge and can be educated (Milligan and Thomas, 2016). This is an effective step for mitigating the issue of social disability in the society. On the other hand, communication is one of the main ways to handle the socially disabled person as through conversation with the people, it is possible to support the disabled person and help them to overcome their situation so that they can lead normal lives. Open conversation and sharing own views and ideas are therefore effective tactics to handle the people with disability as per the social model of disability (Owens, 2015b). Through communication and cooperation, it is also easy to acknowledge the needs and preferences if the people with disability or the vulnerable people in the society. After identifying their needs and preferences, the social communities needs to support them and help them to fulfil their requirements through cooperation and understanding (Milligan and Thomas, 2016). Respecting the person and speaking with the person directly with positive attitude are also effective tactics to help them so that they can overcome the phase of social exclusion and lead normal lives by making personal decision for their own lives (Palacios, 2017).

Asking before providing assistance, listen their ideas and current mental situation as well as understand their actions with cooperation are also important ways to handle the people with social disability (Beckett and Campbell, 2015). Proper voluntary, support and charity further provide an opportunity to develop positive attitude in the society and help the disabled and vulnerable people in the society (Barnes, 2014). The society in this regard plays a crucial role in improving engagement with the disabled people and mitigates the issue of social exclusion. Using social media for advantage and identifying effective tactics to handle the people with social disability is also beneficial for the society to make them active in the society, empower them in the society’s decision making practice as well as day to day interaction are also useful to meet the disabled person’s special requirements so that they can live normal lives in the society (Palacios, 2017).

Conclusion

Socially disabled people need proper support and care from the social communities as a whole where the society tries to help the disabled person to overcome their situation through communication and cooperation. The strategy of social inclusion, proper care and support are helpful in this regard where the disabled people can meet their requirements and live normal lives by taking decisions of their own lives. The society needs to change their attitude as well as interact with the disabled people so that all of them can overcome the issue of social disability and maximise the welfare of their lives.

Reference List

• Barnes, C., 2014. What a difference a decade makes: Reflections on doing ‘emancipatory’disability research. Ethics and Research in Inclusive Education, pp. 55-70.
• Beckett, A.E. and Campbell, T., 2015. The social model of disability as an oppositional device. Disability & Society, 30(2), pp.270-283.
• Gallagher, D.J., Connor, D.J. and Ferri, B.A., 2014. Beyond the far too incessant schism: Special education and the social model of disability. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 18(11), pp.1120-1142.
• Levitt, J.M., 2017. Exploring how the social model of disability can be re-invigorated: in response to Mike Oliver. Disability & Society, 32(4), pp.589-594.
• Mackelprang, R.W. and Salsgiver, R., 2016. Disability: A diversity model approach in human service practice. London: Oxford University Press.
• Milligan, C. and Thomas, C.J., 2016. Dementia and the social model of disability: does responsibility to adjust lie with society rather than people with dementia?. Signpost, 21(3), pp.5-16.
• Oliver, M., 2017. Defining impairment and disability. Disability and Equality Law, pp.3-16. Owens, J., 2015a. Exploring the critiques of the social model of disability: the transformative possibility of Arendt's notion of power. Sociology of health & illness, 37(3), pp.385-403.
• Owens, J., 2015b. The social model of disability and its application to dentistry. Dental Nursing, 11(8), pp.448-450.
• Palacios, A., 2017. The social model of disability and its conception as a Human Rights issue. Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales, 8(1), pp.14-23.