The Social Model

A selection of essays and articles that explain the importance of The Social Model Understanding of Disability

Further towards an Affirmative Model of Disability

A woman with no visible impairment - we are perhaps to assume she does not have any disability - is frowning and waving a hand at a sign which reads 'Normality training: How to stop upsetting people by looking disabled.' A woman carrying a crutch and a man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white cane respond to the frowning woman by saying: 'Be normal - but what makes you think we'd want to lower our standards.'

Dr Colin Cameron explores the development of the Affirmative Model to augment the Social Model

A basic interpretation of the models of Disability

a cartoon of a figure stood behind a series of bars. Each bar carries a label identifying the different barriers

Dave Lupton gives a historical overview of the Medical and Social Models of Disability

Why we are disabled people, not people with disabilities

cartoon of 4 men in wheelchairs and a child pointing saying "oh look - it's the disabled"

Dr Colin Cameron explains why ‘disability’ denotes the barriers disabled people face

The Social Model and Me (a collection of articles)

Help the Normals'

Dave Lupton interviews disabled artists about the impact of the Social Model on their lives

Recommended further reading

Shape Arts – Social Model of Disability