Disability can be related to this model, because as Brofenbrenner (1979) states in his study, not only does individual characteristics impact on development of all children, disabled or not, but environment and social aspects also play a large part too. A disability will have an impact on development, not only through physical means but also by the way people in society see these individuals. Uniqueness of the person-environment interactions are leads to the term ecological (Sontag, 1996). These ecological niches are described as the decisions made by an individual during development depending on their personal characteristics (Sontag, 1996). Perhaps it is these ecological niches that must be understood
further when studying disability to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to certain developmental decisions within an individual.
SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILITY
This then allows us to describe the social model of disability with approaches disability by focusing on the idea that disability is not only caused by an individuals own manifestations but also involvement of the environment which can either incorporate or isolate a person with a disability from the social world. This particular model aims to shift the focus away from peoples impairments and concentrate on social barriers which are preventing these individuals from operating ‘normally’ and gaining access to their needs in today’s world (Shakespeare & Watson, 2001). An example of an environmental barrier may include stairs at a workplace without including ramp access to people with disabilities. Though environmental factors play a large role in making individuals seen as ‘disabled’, other factors such as the attitude of ‘non-disabled’ people is also a barrier. Many of these people, including politicians alike, see those people who do not fit into the norms of human function as costly, useless, angry and needy. Of course this is not the case with all individuals but if society is seen through a general perspective, it is quiet apparent that this is the case. It is these types of barriers that the social model tries to address. This model adheres to the topic that the experience of disability is an interaction between characteristics of the person and environments in which they operate. The social model aims to change the ideology and general way of thinking in society, to see individuals with impairments as being disabled due to factors other than physical impairments. Instead, it is society, with environments, attitudes, and many other factors which have resulted in the view of these individuals being seen as disabled.
THE MEDICAL MODEL OF DISABILITY
The Medical Model approaches disability in a completely different manner. This model sees the individual as a patient that needs to be treated or cured in order to be able to operate ‘normally’ in society today (Oliver, 1990). This model has resulted in controversy from people with disabilities, because it requires them to depend on the medical system to much without providing any probing into other factors that facilitate the experience of disability. This model sees the ‘problem’ of disability stemming from physical limitations. The problem with this is that medical staff aim to treat disability rather than illness, which any ‘normal’ person can also get. A person with a disability may get an illness and need to be treated but a problem arises when doctors also try to treat the disability, which cannot be treated without using the social model of disability (Oliver, 1990). With the medical model, doctors aim to restore the disabled person to a state of normality or as close as possible. A state of normality is questionable among people and cannot be defined. Just because an individual is missing a limb or cannot speak properly does not make them any less normal than someone who has all limbs and fluent speaking skills. But according to this model, they are different and as a result any treatment which causes pain and suffering that ‘may’ return the individual to a more ‘normal’ state is totally justifiable (Oliver, 1990).
COMPARISON OF MODELS
Now that an understanding of these models has been established, a comparison can be made between them. Although it has already been established that doctors are important in treating illnesses, it is also important to establish whether medical professionals are required in tackling the ‘experience’ of disability (Oliver, 1990). It important that doctors and people with disabilities work together to tackle the problems. This can be done by doctors making the attempt to understanding how a specific individual feels disabled rather than trying to fix the physical impairment. On the other hand, disabled people need to understand how doctors have been conditioned by society when approaching disabilities (Oliver, 1990). The medical model relies strongly on the individual and the treatment of their disability by doctors, but perhaps this treatment is not necessary according to the social model. Although doctors are important in other aspects, helping with disability seems to not be working. A social model which looks past the physical impairments and focuses on society and environments needs to be implemented more strongly (Oliver, 1990). It is important that there is a balance between both models when approaching the problem of disability in society and for the disabled person (Gibilisco, 2005).
BRONFENBRENNER & ITS RELEVANCE
In regards to Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology model, mentioned earlier, it can be seen that the medical model is mainly based at the micro system level. In saying this, we are referring to the development of the individual with the face to face contact with health care professionals. It was stated earlier that all systems in the social ecology model have an effect on the development of a child. Perhaps, the experience of disability begins at this level through the interactions at the micro system and the views of the medical model. The doctor-patient bond begins right at the beginning of life, and in the case of a disabled person, the medical model is also introduced. The wrongful thinking argued through the medical model seems to be inhibiting the successful removal of barriers both socially and environmentally (Albrecht et. al., 2005). The social model, also involving the micro system, spans out further to include all the other 3 layers of the social ecology model. Social Welfare services are part of the exosystem and the attitudes and ideologies of the culture are included in the macro system. This type of broad, more general approach, rather than individual treatment for each disabled person is more appropriate to tackle the barriers currently present for those with disabilities (Gibilisco, 2005). Although the social model does take physical and social environments into consideration, it does not consider other factors such as pain and personality. According to Bronfenbrenner (1979), these factors also play a significant role in the lived experiences of an individual. Neither the social model nor the medical model take into consideration specific characteristics of a person but rather focus on environments and individual factors. The pain and personality of a disabled person is important when considering an approach and combining a number of models to suit the needs of these people. All these factors mentioned, from society, environments, interactions and important aspects of the person play a role in development, which all fall into Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology model.
In conclusion, developmental mechanisms and interrelations are important factors in producing a model which will allow for the abolishment of the ‘experience of disability’ and provide knowledge within society to overcome this problem. The social and medical models work to a certain extent, but as complex human beings, two models will never provide a total understanding in the development of a person. The social model is important in recognizing the impact of both social and physical environments, but also looks past the actual impairment and helps understand that disability is a result of interactions within certain environments. An approach which acknowledges this but also considers factors such as personal characteristics of a disabled person will allow for a step forward when overcoming ‘the experience of disability’. In order to do this, not only will a model be required, but also a contribution from those with disabilities, medical professionals and also those classified as ‘normal’. This will then allow for the social and environmental barriers to make way for a more ‘impairment friendly’ world.
References
Alrbrecht, G. L., Selman, K. D., & Bury, M. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of Disability Studies. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Bowes, Jennifer. (2004). Children, Families & Community, Contexts and Consequences. New York: Oxford University Press.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press.
Disability Services Act (1991). Act No. 80/1991.
Oliver M. (1990). The Politics of Disablement. Basingstoke: Macmillans
Oliver M. (1990). The Individual and Social Models of Disability.
Peter Gibilisco. (2005). A Just Society Inclusive of ‘People with Disabilities’. Journal of Australian Political Economy, 52, 129-142.
Shakespeare, T. & Watson, N. (2001b) The social model of disability: an outdated ideology?. Research in Social Science and Disability volume 2, pp 9-28
Sontag, Joanne Curry. (1996). Towards a Comprehensive Theoretical Framework for Disability Research: Bronfenbrenner Revisited. The Journal of Special Education, 30(3), 319-344.
