Question

Which model would best describe the following statements?

1. this person is blind, their impairment is blindness,
2. their disability is the fact that the local library only stocks print books;
3. if the library stocked braille and/or audio books, their disability would be reduced.

a) the medical model
b) the social model

Answer 1

The social model best describes a situation where a person's disability is viewed in terms of societal barriers, such as a library not providing braille or audio books for a person who is blind. The social model focuses on removing these barriers to reduce disability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The model best describing the situation outlined is b) the social model of disability. This framework understands disability as the societal barriers that restrict the activities of people with impairments. In the given scenario, the person has an impairment, which is blindness. However, the disability or the limitation they experience is a result of the library only offering print books, which they cannot use. If the library provided braille and audio books, the societal barrier would be removed, and their disability, in this context, would be reduced as they could access the same services as someone without a visual impairment.

The social model contrasts with the medical model, which focuses on the individual's impairment as the cause of the disadvantage or disability, often leading to an emphasis on treatment or cure as the primary means of dealing with disabilities. The social model, on the other hand, emphasizes changing the environment and societal attitudes to accommodate individuals with impairments, promoting inclusion and accessibility.