The Social Model of Disability

a crowd of people at the women's march

By Nina

Most people would agree that a disability is a physical or mental condition that puts someone at an advantage. But how do we determine what is and isn't an advantage? For example, many wheelchair users have trouble navigating a world full of staircases. That puts them at a disadvantage. But what if our world were full of ramps and elevators instead? Would wheelchair users still be considered disabled? Look at it another way, from a Deaf person’s perspective. They often struggle to communicate with hearing people, and on top of that, it’s extremely difficult to function in a world full of sound. But if we all started using sign language and replacing things like sirens and telephones with tools more accessible to Deaf people, would they still be considered disabled? That's what the social model of disability tries to answer: it argues that society is the disabling factor, not the medical condition of the individual. The social model of disability counters the medical model of disability, which is what we are all taught to believe. The video below explains this in a rather ironic way:

I find the concept of a social model of disability extremely mind blowing, and liberating, in a way. I’ve always felt like my disability is what holds me back. Every unfair situation I’ve been in, every time I’ve felt angry or frustrated with my disability, every time I’ve wished I could be different-- I need to let all that go. Yeah, it’s unfortunate I have a disability. But it’s on me to “overcome” it. But now, I’ve learned that it’s not because of my disability that I have so many challenges. It’s because of the world I live in. It’s nearly impossible to describe this feeling-- but just try to imagine having been told your entire life to “suck it up” and “be strong”, and now it’s as if a weight were taken off your chest. I don’t have to blame myself for anything, and that has boosted my self-confidence.