Identify and briefly discuss each of the three models of disability discussed in your text, focusing on the following: meaning of disability, moral implications, and goal of intervention. Give examples where applicable to help bolster your discussion.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The three models of disability are the moral, medical, and social/minority models. The moral model of disability views disability as a defect caused by moral lapse or sin, failure of faith, or evil’s test of faith. Disability has the potential to bring shame, not only to the disabled, but to the family and cultural group to which the person with disabilities belongs. The goal of counseling and intervention is spiritual or divine acceptance and intervention. As part of treatment, the person with disabilities may imbibe the idea that there is a reason he or she was chosen to have the disability. The medical model views disability as abnormal and pathological due to a defect in bodily systems. In other words, something in the operation of the body is abnormal and needs to be cured or fixed. Part of the reason for the abnormality may be due to genetics, bad health habits, and a person’s behavior or style of living. The goal of intervention is to cure or rehabilitate the abnormality to the greatest level possible. In the medical model, the disability is described in medical terms. The third and final model of disability is the social/minority model that originated in 1975 due to demonstration in favor of the unsigned Rehabilitation Act. The social/minority model views disability as a social construct and a problem that resides in the environment and denies access to resources for persons with disabilities. In this model, it is society that perceives persons with disabilities as disabled. The moral implication of this model is that society has failed this population, thus fostering oppression by denying access to the disabled. The goal of intervention is to increase access and foster inclusion of persons with disabilities in political, economic, and social spheres. To this end, society should focus on promoting of civil rights, not charity.