Types & Effects of Deafness
Conceptual paradigms of deafness have evolved from both the models of disability in general, and also the models of communities. From the models of disability we shall consider the Moral model, the Medical model (also called the individual model, charity model, disability model and rehabilitation model) and the Social model (confusingly, also sometimes referred to as the disability model). From models of communities we shall consider the Cultural model and the Diaspora model.
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[Edit]1 Models of Disability
[Edit]1.1 Moral Model
The 'moral model' of disability is the oldest model of disability, in most cases rooted in religious or spiritual beliefs, and is largely disregarded in contemporary Western society. However many cultures around the world, as well as some sub-cultures in Western communities believe that disability is a result of an individual's sin, and consequently it is cause for guilt and shame. Often the entire family feels shame when a member has a disability, and this can lead to the disabled family member being hidden, isolated from the community, excluded from educational opportunities and any participatory role in the society. Even in cases where this does not happen, social ostracism and a resulting self-hatred are experienced in almost every society.1
[Edit]1.2 Medical Model
The 'medical model' of disability occurs when the individual is seen as a problem needing to be fixed, and where 'successful' rehabilitation is "measured by the achievement, or impression of achievement of 'normalcy'"2, and "where ... 'normalisation' is not possible, the disabled person is viewed as tragic."3
A result of a medical model of disability results also in the attitude of the 'charity case' where "The charity providers, like the medical experts, often decide what they think disabled people need..."4 and "the tragic disabled person ... passively and 'gratefully' receives help."5 The characteristic of an individual/medical/charity model is that the impairment is viewed as abnormal, and that abnormality needs to be "'corrected', 'cured', 'overcome'".6 The individual, rather than environment, should be forced to change.
[Edit]1.3 Social Model
Mike Oliver, a British academic, author, and disability rights activist (and himself a person with a disability), first coined the phrase 'social model' of disability in 1983 in reference to the definition of disability proposed by the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in the United Kingdom. The UPIAS claimed disability occurred because of the way in which people with physical impairments were excluded from mainstream social activities simply because of societal organisation.
The social model assumes that "disability is a part of ordinary human community: that [people with disabilities] are an integral belonging part of the whole... "7, and so rather than trying to remove the impairment, it is concerned with removing the physical and attitudinal barriers of society at individual, as well as community levels.8
[Edit]2 Models of Communities
[Edit]2.1 Cultural model
[Edit]2.2 Diaspora model
[Edit]3 References
- Center for Genetics and Society, "Disability Community and Identity: Perceptions of Prenatal Screening", http://geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=2003
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
- Hastings, Elizabeth (1997) "FounDDAtions: reflections on the first five years of the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia", http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/hr_disab/found.html, accessed on 24 October, 2007.
- http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/child_child/handot1a.shtml
