tweet by kat @graphickat:
When people say “they never use disability as an excuse” it makes me furious.
Stating my reality is not an excuse. My body has physical limitations that aren’t negotiable.
When I tell you I can’t do something, it’s not an excuse. It’s not a matter of positivity. It’s truth.
The social model of disability seeks to redefine disability to refer to the restrictions caused by society when it does not give equitable social and structural support according to disabled peoples’ structural needs.
As a simple example, if a person is unable to climb stairs, the medical model focuses on making the individual physically able to climb stairs. The social model tries to make stair-climbing unnecessary, such as by making society adapt to their needs, and assist them by replacing the stairs with a wheelchair-accessible ramp.
According to the social model, the person remains disabled with respect to climbing stairs, but the disability is negligible and no longer disabling in that scenario, because the person can get to the same locations without climbing any stairs.
While I agree the social model has its merits, I think the radical model is by far most accurate:
https://www.drakemusic.org/blog/nim-ralph/understanding-disability-part-6-the-radical-model/
https://stillmyrevolution.org/2012/01/01/radical-model/
https://www.fullspectrumchildcare.com/blog/to-be-a-radical-crip-and-the-power-in-identifying-as-one
https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/a-basic-interpretation-of-the-models-of-disability/
So it builds on the social model. Interesting! I’m just ready for these models to get pushed a little more to the front of society. But as always,
Capitalist: “I don’t get it. How does it make money? Oh it costs money? Then definitely not”
Depressingly accurate