Disability

Question 1

The Medical Model

Answer 1

Sees disability as a medical problem, focusing on the limitations caused by the impairment, and this has long been the prevalent approach taken by society. This approach leads to the defining of a disabled person by their disability or impairment.

Question 2

Shakespeare (1996)

Answer 2

Argues that disabled people are often socialised into seeing themselves as victims and that people with impairments may accept this “victim mentality” because they can use it as a reason for their failure.

Question 3

The Social Model

Answer 3

Focuses on the social and physical barriers to inclusion that may exist, such as the design of buildings and public spaces that deny access to those with mobility problems, or discriminatory attitudes and practices against those with disabilities

Question 4

What does the Social Model suggest?

Answer 4

That it can lead to the view that disability is socially constructed, since it rests on the assumptions of what is normal and abnormal.

Question 5

Barnes (1992)

Answer 5

Media stereotypes of disability as portrayed as negative, as they are seen to be oppressive.
Rarely presented as people with their own identities

Question 6

What does Barnes notes to be several media representations of people with disabilities?

Answer 6

• As victims, three times more likely than able - bodied characters to be killed off.
• As villains, people with disabilities are often portrayed as villains or criminals
• As a burden, TV docs and news features often focus on carers rather then people with disabilities.

Question 7

Gill (1997)

Answer 7

• Forms of learned helplessness
• Self - fulfilling prophecies, internalise the idea that they are incapable of changing a situation
• Fatalistic, fail to take action to help themselves
• Segregated schooling, encourage learned helplessness even if the intentions are well meaning

Question 8

Murugami (2009)

Answer 8

• Ability to construct a self - identity that accepts their impairment but see themselves as a person first.
• People construct what is considered normal, embrace their disability as a normal part of themselves
• Society should view disability as a human condition

Question 9

What is the 1995 Disability and Discrimination Act?

Answer 9

Gives legal protection and rights to disabled people