Disability – Module 2
Disability:
- Dis = away from
- Ability = capacity or competence
- Depending on dictionary source,
o Functional inability
o Lack of means
o Legal impediment
Historical perspective – Hebrew bible
- And ‘leper’, ‘possessed of demons’, ‘defect’, ‘impurity’
- Belief that disability was related to sin
o Shunned, ostracized, derived livelihood by begging
- Indication of social and material conditions of living with a disability in the ancient world
Historical perspectives – to mid 20th century
Charitable model
- Defined by religious authorities
- Mission to ‘help’, ‘victims’ and ‘objects of pity’
- Limitations?
Economic model
- Advances in rehabilitation field -> increased independence -> take place in society and
labour market
- Defined by employers and businesses
o Ability to work
o Economically self-sufficient
o Productivity
- Gave rise to programs and services for those who did not work (disability pensions)
- Limitations?
Historical perspectives – 1950s-1960s
Sociological model
- Post-war prosperity + scientific developments -> social ideal of full employment, home
ownership, higher education, some luxuries
- Defined by justice system and other powerful institutions
- Outsiders, at the margins, a minority group, risk to others
Historical perspectives – 1960s-1980s
Biomedical (medical) model
- Defined by medical professionals
- Impairment, fault, flaw within the person that can be corrected
- Make timely and compassionate diagnosis and treatment available
Disability:
- Dis = away from
- Ability = capacity or competence
- Depending on dictionary source,
o Functional inability
o Lack of means
o Legal impediment
Historical perspective – Hebrew bible
- And ‘leper’, ‘possessed of demons’, ‘defect’, ‘impurity’
- Belief that disability was related to sin
o Shunned, ostracized, derived livelihood by begging
- Indication of social and material conditions of living with a disability in the ancient world
Historical perspectives – to mid 20th century
Charitable model
- Defined by religious authorities
- Mission to ‘help’, ‘victims’ and ‘objects of pity’
- Limitations?
Economic model
- Advances in rehabilitation field -> increased independence -> take place in society and
labour market
- Defined by employers and businesses
o Ability to work
o Economically self-sufficient
o Productivity
- Gave rise to programs and services for those who did not work (disability pensions)
- Limitations?
Historical perspectives – 1950s-1960s
Sociological model
- Post-war prosperity + scientific developments -> social ideal of full employment, home
ownership, higher education, some luxuries
- Defined by justice system and other powerful institutions
- Outsiders, at the margins, a minority group, risk to others
Historical perspectives – 1960s-1980s
Biomedical (medical) model
- Defined by medical professionals
- Impairment, fault, flaw within the person that can be corrected
- Make timely and compassionate diagnosis and treatment available
