The Sociology of Everything Podcast The Social Model of Disability (ft. Caroline Ellison)
Sep 20, 2023
Caroline Ellison, a noted developmental educator and Associate Professor of Ageing, discusses the strengths and limitations of the social model of disability. She explores the adoption and debates of this model in contexts like Australia. Topics include the distinction between impairment and disability, the wide spectrum of physical abilities, criticism of the social model, alternative ways of conceptualizing disability, personal journeys with disability, and Caroline's work in disability research and collaboration.
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Disability Is Socially Constructed
- Disability is socially constructed through the environment and societal barriers, not just the physical impairment itself.
- Accessibility and opportunity shape whether someone experiences disability, not impairment alone.
Fix Society, Not Individuals
- The social model shifts the focus from fixing individuals to fixing societal structures and environments.
- It highlights that disabling factors arise from social design, not from impairments themselves.
Impairment and Disability Intertwined
- The social model overlooks the complex interplay between impairment and social barriers.
- Everyday lives blur the distinctions between impact of impairment and societal obstacles.