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How does medical model of disability discourses influence policy?

Education policy

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Medical model of disability

Social model of disability

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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The medical model of disability discourse significantly influences policy by emphasizing individual impairment and the need for fixing or preventing differences in bodies, leading to a focus on diagnosable states and individual adaptation. This model reduces support for prodisability policies by legitimizing the status quo and discouraging structural discrimination awareness. In contrast, the social model of disability highlights how societal infrastructures create disabling environments, shifting the focus from individual impairments to societal barriers. Policy documents often incorporate language from various disability models tactically to enhance legitimacy, with power primarily held by government officials rather than individuals with disabilities or their advocates. The medical model's influence can be seen in U.S. federal education legislation, implicitly supporting a normative, able-bodied, English-speaking student, reflecting psycholinguistic conceptualizations of disability.

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Open access•DOI Walking the talk? Models of disability and discourse in employment policy for Canadians with disabilities John Wright Vellacott 18 Aug 2011 1 Citations	Not addressed in the paper.
Open access Disability and Language Ideologies in Education Policy Jennifer Phuong 01 Jan 2017 5 Citations	The medical model of disability in education policy, as seen in IDEA, links language impairments to defining disabilities, shaping identification processes and services for students with disabilities.
Journal Article•DOI Disability Models Affect Disability Policy Support through Awareness of Structural Discrimination Thomas P. Dirth, Nyla R. Branscombe - Show less +1 more 01 Jun 2017-Journal of Social Issues 52 Citations	The medical model of disability discourse reduces prodisability policy support by legitimizing the status quo, hindering structural discrimination awareness and policy backing.
Book Chapter•DOI Making disability known: medicalisation of disability and the development of the International Classification of Functioning Jennifer Smith-Merry 08 Jun 2023	The medical model of disability influences policy by focusing on individual impairment, leading to either segregation or adaptation within society, as seen in the development of the ICF framework.

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How has the medical model of disability discourse influenced policy in Ireland?4 answersThe discourse surrounding the medical model of disability has significantly impacted policy in Ireland. The country has been undergoing reforms in its special education funding models to align with the principles of inclusive education outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). These reforms aim to create a more equitable resource model for students with disabilities, moving towards a system of inclusive education and potentially eliminating special schools and classes. Critical policy analysis within the Irish context has utilized frameworks that draw from discourse analysis and post-structuralist analysis to evaluate disability policy, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between welfare, education, and labor market activation for disabled individuals.

What are the main criticism of medical model of disability?5 answersThe main criticisms of the medical model of disability are that it makes normative inferences from empirical claims, leading to unjust assessments of the quality of life of disabled people. It is also criticized for its characterization and management of mental illness and disability. Another criticism is that it expresses disparagement towards the lives, value, and experiences of people with disabilities, and is based on inaccurate and disparaging models of disability. The medical model is seen as problematic for students with disabilities in academia, including medicine, as it focuses on curing the individual's intrinsic problem and may limit their potential for practicing medicine. Lastly, the medical model tends to individualize the problem of disability and pathologize the disabled person, rather than understanding disability as a property of social contexts.

What is the medical model of disability?5 answersThe medical model of disability is a perspective that locates disability within individuals and focuses on individual medical conditions as the causes of disability. It defines disability as a fixed condition related to the severity of a medical impairment and assumes that this medical condition inevitably causes dependency between disabled and non-disabled people. However, there have been critiques of the medical model, arguing that disability cannot be understood outside its social context. These critiques highlight the role of the environment and personal factors in shaping the experiences of individuals with disabilities. Historians of medicine have also examined the medical model and its critiques, emphasizing the need to historicize and critique the concept to better address disability perspectives. By challenging the assumptions about normality and difference, a social model of disability suggests that disability is located in the relationship between individuals with bodily and intellectual differences and their social environment, leading to a focus on changes in social policy, culture, and institutional practices to ameliorate disability.

What are the effects of a medical model of disability in education?3 answersThe effects of a medical model of disability in education can lead to uncompassionate attitudes among doctors, compromising the quality of healthcare provided to individuals with disabilities. This model discounts the difference between disability and impairment and fails to recognize the socio-environmental factors that contribute to disability. Lack of awareness and low priority on disability issues in medical and therapeutic services can result in discrepancies in healthcare for individuals with disabilities. In the field of education, unpredictable government planning for hiring special education teachers and a lack of resources and curriculum adaptations hinder the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools. The reliance on a "charity model" to fill the gaps in public education further exacerbates the challenges faced by children with disabilities. Including disability studies in medical and educational curricula can help address these issues and improve the quality of healthcare and education for individuals with disabilities.

What is the difference between the medical model of disability and the social model of disability?5 answersThe medical model of disability views disability as a medical condition that should be diagnosed and treated. It focuses on physical defects in the individual's body and aims to fix them through medical interventions. On the other hand, the social model of disability sees disability as a social construct that is created by barriers in society, which limit the participation of certain groups of people. It emphasizes that disability is not an individual's problem, but rather a result of societal attitudes and structures. The social model highlights the importance of removing these barriers and promoting inclusivity and equality for people with disabilities. It shifts the focus from the individual's impairment to the social and environmental factors that contribute to disability. While the medical model focuses on medical interventions, the social model emphasizes social change and the creation of an inclusive society.

What are the prospects of modelling in disease and policy making?5 answersMathematical modelling plays a crucial role in disease and policy making. It helps inform decisions about animal diseases and contributes towards better decision-making. Mathematical modelling has been a key tool in exploring the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Models have been used to understand and predict disease trends, leading to their adoption by policy makers. Modelling allows for a systematic analysis of complex model runs, providing a thorough understanding of systems behavior. With advancements in data and computational resources, disease dynamic models can be parameterized with increasing detail and accuracy, enhancing their usefulness in prediction and policy. However, challenges such as lack of parameter identifiability and acquiring sufficient quantity and quality of data still need to be addressed.

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