4.5. Explain how the social model of disability can be used in practice

This guide will help you answer 4.5. Explain how the social model of disability can be used in practice.

The social model of disability is a way of thinking that sees disability as the result of societal barriers, rather than someone’s impairment or condition. This means the focus shifts to changing the environment, attitudes, and systems, rather than seeing the individual as the problem. This is different from the medical model of disability, which concentrates on diagnosing and treating the person’s impairments.

Understanding the social model helps support workers identify and change barriers that limit disabled people. This improves inclusion, independence, and dignity. In this guide, we’ll look at how to use the social model of disability in practice.

Creating an Accessible Environment

Support workers can apply the social model by ensuring environments are accessible. Accessibility means removing physical, social, or technological barriers that make spaces harder to use for some people.

For example:

• Add ramps or lifts if stairs block wheelchair users.
• Rearrange furniture to create wide pathways for mobility aids.
• Use bright, clear signage for individuals with visual impairments.
• Provide hearing loops for individuals with hearing impairments.

In practice, this involves working with managers or specialists to suggest these adjustments and ensuring spaces meet the needs of everyone. Always ask individuals which adjustments help them, rather than assuming.

Promoting Positive Attitudes

Attitudes towards disability can have a big impact on inclusion. Negative stereotypes or assumptions are forms of discrimination. Support workers should treat individuals with respect, focusing on their abilities rather than limitations.

Promoting positive attitudes means:

• Using respectful language that the individual prefers, such as “disabled person” rather than “handicapped” or outdated terms.
• Addressing the individual directly, instead of speaking to a carer or interpreter unless invited to.
• Providing reassurance and encouragement, rather than pity or sympathy.

If other staff or members of the public make discriminatory comments, support workers can challenge these views by explaining why they are inappropriate. This spreads awareness and reinforces the social model.

Involving Disabled People in Decisions

The social model encourages involving disabled people in decisions about their care or the services they access. They are the experts in their own lives and understand what barriers they face.

Support workers can:

• Actively listen when individuals share their needs or issues.
• Work collaboratively to develop support plans. For instance, involve the person in deciding what equipment or adjustments would help them.
• Regularly review the support with them to ensure it continues to meet their needs.

This approach empowers people and ensures the decisions benefit them meaningfully, instead of others imposing choices on them.

Providing Accessible Information

Information should be accessible so everyone understands their rights, support options, or other important details. For example:

• Use plain language, avoiding complicated jargon or acronyms.
• Offer documents in larger fonts, braille, audio recordings, or Easy Read formats, which combine pictures and simple text.
• Provide translation services or sign language interpreters if someone communicates in a language other than English.

Accessible information helps all individuals to make informed choices without unnecessary barriers. Discuss with the person what format works best for them.

Encouraging Social Inclusion

The social model of disability supports the idea that everyone has a right to be part of their community. Support workers can encourage individuals to take part in activities, friendships, or work opportunities. Barriers like prejudice, inflexible working policies, or inaccessible venues can exclude disabled people.

Here’s how to encourage inclusion:

• Assist individuals in finding local social groups, sports, or hobby clubs they’re interested in.
• Work with employers or service managers to make adjustments for disabled individuals, e.g., part-time schedules, ensuring the workplace is wheelchair accessible.
• Support individuals in making and maintaining friendships by helping them build confidence or communicating with others.

Social inclusion promotes well-being, reduces isolation, and helps individuals achieve their full potential.

Using Personalised Support Plans

Every individual experiences disability differently. The social model focuses on addressing the specific barriers they face, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Support plans are personalised documents outlining the needs, goals, and support someone requires. Create personalised support plans by:

• Discussing with individuals how their barriers affect them.
• Identifying specific actions and adjustments to remove those barriers.
• Collaborating with other professionals, like occupational therapists, to ensure the plan addresses all needs.

Always review and update plans as people’s needs may change over time or as they identify new barriers.

Challenging Barriers in Policies and Practices

Sometimes, organisational policies or practices unintentionally create barriers for disabled people. The social model stresses the need to challenge these barriers so services work for everyone.

Examples include:

• Restructuring work schedules to allow flexibility for people with fatigue or anxiety.
• Adjusting staff training policies to teach all employees about the social model of disability and inclusive practice.
• Flagging issues like inaccessible online systems or procedures with management and suggesting changes.

Support workers can act as advocates by raising these issues and offering practical solutions.

Advocating for Rights

The social model connects with the human rights of disabled people. Support workers can help individuals understand their legal rights and advocate for fair treatment or equality.

In practice, this means:

• Explaining the Equality Act 2010, which makes disability discrimination illegal and sets out a duty for organisations to make reasonable adjustments.
• Supporting people to make formal complaints if they experience discrimination or inaccessible services.
• Signposting them to organisations such as Citizens Advice or disability advocacy groups for professional guidance.

Advocacy gives disabled people a voice and can push for wider societal change.

Raising Awareness in Wider Society

The social model teaches that society’s attitudes and design need to change to remove disability-related barriers. Support workers can play a part in raising awareness.

This could include:

• Organising or contributing to awareness sessions that explain the social model. Invite stakeholders like employers or community leaders to these sessions.
• Sharing positive stories of disabled people who have been supported effectively using the social model (while protecting confidentiality).
• Highlighting inclusive practices within the organisation to encourage other teams or services to adopt similar approaches.

These actions help educate others, breaking down prejudice and improving opportunities.

Real-Life Example

Imagine a child in a school setting who has difficulty climbing stairs due to a mobility condition. The medical model would focus on fixing or treating the child’s condition—perhaps through intensive physiotherapy.

Using the social model, the school would instead look for ways to remove the barrier the stairs create. This could include installing a lift or relocating classrooms to the ground floor. Further adjustments might include accessible toilets or mobility training for staff to give the child more independence.

This approach ensures the child can participate fully in education and feels included, rather than excluded.

Final Thoughts on Practice

The social model of disability creates opportunities by removing systemic, environmental, and attitudinal barriers. Support workers apply it in many ways, like creating accessible environments, challenging discrimination, and recognising disabled people as equal participants in decisions.

Every disabled individual is different, so it’s important to listen to their unique experiences and learn from them. By working together and applying the social model, support workers can create meaningful change in their everyday practice. This type of inclusive practice ensures that everyone feels valued and supported.