The social model of disability says that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference. It looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. When barriers are removed, disabled people can be independent and equal in society, with choice and control over their own lives.
In contrast the medical model of disability says that disability is caused by not having a ‘normal’ body that functions in a ‘normal’ way. This idea suggests that disabled people cannot engage in society and that their disability must be fixed in order to live a fulfilling life.
Disabled people developed the social model of disability because the traditional medical model did not explain their personal experience of disability or help to develop more inclusive ways of living.
People with impairments are disabled by the fact that they are excluded from participation within the mainstream of society as a result of physical, organisational and attitudinal barriers.
These barriers prevent them from gaining equal access to information, education, employment, public transport, housing and social/recreational opportunities.
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Kashka Georgeson Crippen Raj JeyarajDorian SripeDanielle MorganMary AshleyAnonymousEmily Mannino-JeattOlivia BurgonNaomi and Benji ReidThe Buzz ClubGraeme BrittlesTaimour Fazlani
Side Eye
I squint people in public
A few years ago I dreamt I was on the roof of a building, in a desert. I could feel the cool tiles beneath my feet and around me there was nothing but night. As I looked into the sky I saw a giant moon, swelling & wobbling across the sky. The edges of the moon turned red, then as the light in it seemed to subside, another moon appeared, then another. Suddenly the sky was filled with these silver, white orbs moving towards me. I wasn’t scared. I knew that they were moving closer so that I could see them in their detail and beauty. And as each one faded back from me I knew they were going to lighten the darkness in someone else’s sky. I don’t see the moon so much any more and I haven’t seen a star in years. But on days when my oedema is bad I pretend the distortions in my vision are moons and friendly lights, like in the dream. Macular edema is swelling of the part of your eye responsible for detailed, central vision.
“Sorry, mate, you’ll have to pay for your legs, too.”
Dylan stopped. Had he heard right?
“But no one else has had to pay for their legs,” he said, voice starting to tremble. The bouncer shook his head.
“Your legs are gonna enjoy the club too, aren’t they? You’ll either have to pay for them separately or leave them outside.”
“How do you expect me to get in without my legs?”
Dylan saw the bouncer’s expression steel, and sighed, bringing his tone down.
“What if there was a fire? Am I supposed to pull myself out with my hands?”
The security worker was clearly getting sick of this conversation.
“Look. I just work the door.”
Dylan looked helplessly at his legs, then reached into his pocket.
“I don’t know if I have the money,” he whispered.
“Pay your way or move,” grunted the bouncer.
“I’m just trying to go dancing with my girlfriend,” Dylan pleaded. The bouncer scoffed, and Dylan knew exactly what he was thinking. Girlfriend? Ha.
“Well then she can be your legs, can’t she?” he said, as if this was a stupidly simple answer.
Dylan snapped, “That’s not her job!”
The security guard rolled his eyes, and the people behind Dylan began to mutter.
“…ungrateful…”
“…shouldn’t be out here anyway…”
“…demanding special treatment…”
Dylan’s shoulders sagged as the bouncer yanked him back suddenly and out of the way of the queue.
“Go home, mate. This isn’t your scene, anyway.”
With that, the bouncer turned his back on Dylan and began to admit the frustrated queue, apologising as many of them grumbled.
Dylan turned to look at the woman who on Thursday nights worked as his legs, sighed, and gestured for her to take him home.
Tricky stuff!
*Getting down stairs, it makes my knees hurt
*Talking to people I don’t know
*I get nervous when new people are close to me
*It’s a little bit hard when people shout down my ear!
*I’m not very good at big words
*I get upset and angry when people don’t listen to me
*My friends sometimes talk over me – the noise melts my head and I’m like ‘Jeez, shhhh and let me think’!!
Things that help!
*More sign language and symbols would help me to understand
*I need time to get to know people and feel confident
*I need time to think about what’s going on in my head before I speak
So I tryed. Very harb.
Two fit in.
always felt, A lone.
Not that i bibnt’ understanb.
because i bid.
I always did.
Conversaytionalley, im good.
paulity in writing is only won way.
Everywon nows.
But it is insisted.
On the grounds of;
Stardererdising peoqle, hoo believe
their is normal.
alenating,
this hoo dont’ fit there,
Mould.
_|ife isnt fare.
Because thos macking the rules,
decided so.
I can tork.
But i hat writin
and hat reeding.
But im good at lots eels.
The Barriers of Living with a disability
Hello, I am 19 years old and I’ve got Autism and ADHD.
Every since I was a child, there was a difference in me. Crying like any toddler of his/hers time. But the signs were there It became more than a non disabled child.
This prompted my parents to find out what was wrong with me.
A visit later I was diagonsed with Autism and ADHD Antention, diafecey, hyperactivity, disorder.
Autism has given me a different perspective on life, I tend to know changes quickly. But It also means having relationships and understanding are a bit difficult
Hello my name is Emily Mannino-Jeatt and I was born with downs syndrome. I was born on the 10th January 1996.
Having downs syndrome it is always hard and I can get bullied a lot like people laughing at me, calling me names, talking about me behind my back and of course talking about my downs syndrome and always thinking I can’t understand anything. And in society funding can be hard, politions talking about people like me can’t do anything and can’t reach to our dreams and that hurts me badly.
Life of a learning disability girl
I sometimes wish that I didn’t have specail needs, then I would be abel to drive, go out by myself, meet up with friends, have a boyfriend, get marriers, have children, go to universaty, graduate, have a good job, have less worries, be abel to take myself to the gyn, shopping etc.
But unfortunately I can’t do or be all thoese things becaues of my learning disabilitys!
People think that I have a great life becaues I do lots with my family, but if pepole put thereself in my shoes, they could see how oeverwhelemd I get in social situations, how my anixetys takes over me becaues I don;t look like I have special needs so pepole asume that I am just shy but I struggle to start a converstation, I feel icesolated becaues I can’t do and go as I pleas becaues my road sfaty isn’t so good. I struggle with money so I need someone to help me, I wish that I could go to a normal uni and I possbiely be a nurse like my mum and I wish that I could meet a nice boy, marrie him and start a family with him!
Two photos of me by Benji Reid, which I positioned like this as I think it gives a relatively clear visual representation of my constant state of being upset at the various racist and sexist things that I both live and read about 7/7, being labelled angry because I’m a black woman and everything we say is taken as being anger by default, which then angers me, alienates me and leads me to being even more upset – rinse and repeat. All the while navigating bipolarity and adhd with medication that only makes me tired and intensifies my nightmares. I have no dreams left for I spend all my energy battling not only nightmares in my sleep, but the nightmare of being a black woman in a patriarchal white supremacist society.
By Naomi M and Benji Reid
