Image from The Medical Model of Disability: http://ddsg.org.uk/taxi/medical-model.html
Medical Model of Disability
"The medical model is presented as viewing disability as a problem of the person, directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health condition which therefore requires sustained medical care provided in the form of individual treatment by professionals" (Langtree, 2015). The medical model of disability sees a disabled person as faulty and in need of fixing or curing. Disabled people are seen to be dependent on others to help them and decide on care/ treatment for their disability.
Journal Article
“Replacing Medical and Social Models of Disability by a Communities-based Model of Equal Access for People of Differing Abilities”
The medical model of Disability looks into the idea of setbacks that can occur to a student due to the medical side of their disability. There is always ongoing work being put into helping students with a disability especially when it comes time to placing them into the school environment. If a student is not in fit enough for school then it will set them back, leading them to be affected socially also. For a child to achieve to an optimal standard it is important that they meet both the medical and social aspects of disability. Within a schooling environment having the correct resources is crucial to be able to have a child with a disability attend school. An example of this is if a child needs a wheel chair to move around the school yard, having ramps to get into the school ground and classrooms is important which allows the student to attend school easily. If a school does not have ramps, then it doesn’t meet the needs of the medical model of disability. According to Hickey, to ensure that students ate fit enough to attend school the teachers and school need to have met some of the needs of the medical model (Hickey, p.35.) If a student has a particular medical disability informing the school and providing the student with an aid as well will ensure the student is able to attend school safely knowing that they will be looked after and can be helped If need. This also provides the teacher with stability knowing she has an extra hand to ensure the student is able to gain an education with the correct medical attention. Another example would be if there was a student who was visually impaired in the classroom, it is the teacher’s responsibility to go the extra step to make the font larger for the student when they have to complete their work but to also organised the classroom in a way that is well organised. This could be making sure students leave the door way clear and keep things off the ground so that it isn’t a tripping hazard for the student who can’t see properly.
Small things can be implemented into the classroom to help a student medically with their disability. No matter what the disability is hickey believes that a school should work around providing safe and appropriate environments that cater for the needs of all different students in the classroom (Hickey, H. P.40.).
The medical model will always be addressed and worked on as it is crucial that a child’s safety is put first within a schooling environment. When the above examples are implemented it allows a student with a disability the right to learn in a safe environment so they can work to their full potential to work towards benefiting them now and in the future.
The medical model of Disability looks into the idea of setbacks that can occur to a student due to the medical side of their disability. There is always ongoing work being put into helping students with a disability especially when it comes time to placing them into the school environment. If a student is not in fit enough for school then it will set them back, leading them to be affected socially also. For a child to achieve to an optimal standard it is important that they meet both the medical and social aspects of disability. Within a schooling environment having the correct resources is crucial to be able to have a child with a disability attend school. An example of this is if a child needs a wheel chair to move around the school yard, having ramps to get into the school ground and classrooms is important which allows the student to attend school easily. If a school does not have ramps, then it doesn’t meet the needs of the medical model of disability. According to Hickey, to ensure that students ate fit enough to attend school the teachers and school need to have met some of the needs of the medical model (Hickey, p.35.) If a student has a particular medical disability informing the school and providing the student with an aid as well will ensure the student is able to attend school safely knowing that they will be looked after and can be helped If need. This also provides the teacher with stability knowing she has an extra hand to ensure the student is able to gain an education with the correct medical attention. Another example would be if there was a student who was visually impaired in the classroom, it is the teacher’s responsibility to go the extra step to make the font larger for the student when they have to complete their work but to also organised the classroom in a way that is well organised. This could be making sure students leave the door way clear and keep things off the ground so that it isn’t a tripping hazard for the student who can’t see properly.
Small things can be implemented into the classroom to help a student medically with their disability. No matter what the disability is hickey believes that a school should work around providing safe and appropriate environments that cater for the needs of all different students in the classroom (Hickey, H. P.40.).
The medical model will always be addressed and worked on as it is crucial that a child’s safety is put first within a schooling environment. When the above examples are implemented it allows a student with a disability the right to learn in a safe environment so they can work to their full potential to work towards benefiting them now and in the future.
Examples of the Medical Model in the Classroom
- a teacher who refuses to produce a hand-out in a larger font for a visually impaired student. The student cannot therefore participate in the class discussion;
- A teacher refuses to make available a copy of a PowerPoint presentation before a lecture. This creates a barrier to learning for the dyslexic students in the group who are likely to have a slower processing and writing speed and who will struggle to understand and record the key points;
- a Students’ Union society that organises an event that is not accessible to disabled members.
Ways to overcome the Medical Model in the Classroom
- The teacher takes the extra time to produce resources that are suitable for all the students in the classroom, including the students with disabilities.
- The teacher can allow the students that are struggling to look at the powerpoint prior to the class so they are able to start thinking about what is being taught and gain an understanding.
- Make sure that all events and excursions are suitable for all students, and if they aren't change the excursion or event so everyone is able to participate.
Image from Inclusion London: https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/disability-in-london/social-model/the-social-model-of-disability-and-the-cultural-model-of-deafness/