How does the Social Model of Disability Compare to the Medical Model?

The way we view disability and treat people with disabilities has come a long way. When Fraser SchoolÒ was founded in 1935, most children with disabilities were institutionalized, rather than educated. These children grew into adults who either spent their entire lives in institutions, or never left home, having their families care for them their entire lives, for better or worse.

Now, there are schools for children with disabilities, special education supports in public schools and residential homes that offer support. There are also laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which “prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services.” And yet, we’ve still got a ways to go to create a society that truly accepts and supports individuals with disabilities. Here’s what you need to know about the social model of disability compared to the medical model of disability.  

Social model of disability

Mike Oliver’s 1983 book, “Social Work With Disabled People,” is often credited for bringing the social model of disability to the mainstream population. The Guardian states, “A leading figure in the British disability movement, Mike Oliver…bridged its activist and academic wings and popularized the concept of the social model of disability. He went on to become Britain’s first professor of disability studies. Growing acceptance of the social model of disability, by which the individual is regarded as disabled by society and their environment rather than by their own impairment, has been key to the emancipation of disabled people over the past 40 years.”

In other words, the social model of disability places the obligation on society to address the environmental barriers that keep disabled people from participating in events or activities. This could mean installing more wheelchair ramps or having lever handles that require less force to open than traditional doorknobs.

The social model also focuses on “derogatory attitudes, social isolation or physical exclusion of people with disabilities.” In that way, it asks society to be more open to different types of living and ways to support different levels of ability.

Medical model of disability

The medical model of disability is the best-known model of disability, or what has been the long-accepted view of disability, until disability advocates began to advocate for change.

“The medical model of disability suggests that the goal for a person with a disability should be to minimize the impact of their disability, enabling them to participate in the world similarly to non-disabled individuals,” says Fraser Sensory Supports and Training Program Manager Gina Brady.

Disabled people deserve and need access to medical supports. If you have limited mobility, you likely want to do what you can to improve that. That can mean using a wheelchair, doing physical therapy to improve your gait or even having back surgery so you can walk with less pain. All these supports can improve an individual’s life and make accessing more parts of the world easier.

However, the view that disabled people need to change their bodies to fit into society is unfair and reductive. So, the medical model places the obligation on the disabled person, rather than society as a whole.

Social vs. medical?

Brady points out that the social model of disability is often a much quicker, if not almost immediate, way to address issues. For example, a person with difficulty walking could undergo physical therapy to improve their gait and gain access to more spaces. Progress may happen over several months where that person would still face barriers to participating in their community. Or, a business could install a wheelchair ramp, allowing them, along with others with mobility issues, to have immediate access to a space.

Those with sensory processing differences can be overwhelmed by input like loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, crowds and more. Sensory differences are common for individuals with autism, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), trauma and other emotional issues. So, an individual with sensory processing differences could meet with an OT to learn how to cope with their sensory needs to feel more comfortable at the dentist. Or, a dentist’s office could undergo sensory training to learn how to make their environment more sensory-friendly to all individuals.

Both models are needed

In Brady’s roles at Fraser, she advocates for and uses both models. Brady leads the Fraser Sensory Certified™ Supports and Training program. The program assists businesses, schools, arts organizations, sports venues, parks and events with making their environments more comfortable and accommodating for individuals and families with sensory-processing differences. In other words, businesses and organizations work with Brady to modify their environments to make these spaces more accessible for people with sensory differences.

For example, the Minnesota United FC soccer team offers Fraser Sensory Kits for anyone to check out during a match at Allianz Stadium. With this program, Brady focuses on the social model of disability, trying to make businesses and experiences more inclusive for more members of our community.

Brady is also a trained occupational therapist. When she was doing therapy, she would focus more on the medical model of disability. Brady has worked with many children and young people with autism, anxiety, ADHD, intellectual and physical disabilities and other mental and behavioral conditions. As an OT, she helped kids improve skills required for everyday activities and routines, like buttoning their shirts, holding a fork and dealing with overwhelming sensory input. She might provide a child with sensory strategies like having them wear noise-canceling headphones in a place with loud noises, use a fidget to provide calming sensory input or wear a compression vest in a stressful situation. These types of interventions focus on the individual, rather than society.

Yet, being able to button your shirt is a skill that makes life easier. Certainly, wearing noise-canceling headphones can make many events and experiences more pleasant. Think about the last time you went to a concert — did you wear earplugs? People without sensory differences may also need to modify their environment to feel more comfortable.

“There is a time and place for both the medical and the social model of disability,” says Brady. “Disabled people should be able to seek help when they need and want to. But they shouldn’t have to minimize their disability just to participate in society. When we use both models, we provide individuals with more comprehensive care that addresses their needs more wholistically.”