1.3 Critically analyse the difference between the social model and medical model of disability and how each model affects provision

This guide will help you answer 1.3 Critically analyse the difference between the social model and medical model of disability and how each model affects provision.

What is the Social Model of Disability?

The social model of disability focuses on the way society is organised and how this creates barriers for people with impairments. It separates the impairment from disability. The impairment is the physical, sensory or mental difference, whereas disability is the result of societal barriers that restrict participation.

In this model, the main idea is that people are disabled not by their impairment but by the attitudes, structures and environments that fail to support inclusion. For example, a wheelchair user is disabled not because they cannot walk but because buildings lack ramps or lifts.

Barriers under the social model can be:

• Physical, such as stairs without ramps or narrow doorways
• Organisational, such as rigid timetables that do not allow rest periods
• Attitudinal, such as prejudice, lack of awareness, or stereotyping
• Communication-based, such as lack of accessible formats for information

In the social model, changes to society are seen as the best way to include disabled people. This might involve improving building access, adapting teaching methods, and working to challenge discrimination.

What is the Medical Model of Disability?

The medical model views disability as a problem within the person. It emphasises diagnosis and treatment, focusing on impairments as conditions to be cured, managed, or rehabilitated. It often leads to seeing the disabled person as needing professional help to change or overcome their limitations.

In this model, disability tends to be linked with words like deficit, abnormality, or disorder. The aim is often to correct or reduce the impairment so the person can fit into existing systems, rather than changing systems to meet diversity.

For example, if a child has hearing loss, the medical model approach may focus on medical treatments or hearing aids rather than ensuring that teaching resources are available in sign language.

From a service point of view, the medical model often leads to provision that is centred around healthcare and specialist interventions, such as physiotherapy or surgery. The approach is often top-down, with decisions led by specialists rather than by the disabled person.

Key Differences Between the Models

The differences can be summarised in terms of perspective and responsibility.

• Social model: Focuses on societal change. Responsibility lies with communities, organisations, and systems to remove barriers.
• Medical model: Focuses on fixing the individual. Responsibility lies with health professionals and the person to adapt or recover within existing structures.

The social model promotes inclusion by changing attitudes, environments and systems. The medical model promotes change through treatment, rehabilitation and management of impairments.

Another difference is in how success is measured. In the social model, success is improved access, rights, and participation. In the medical model, success is often measured in terms of clinical improvement or reduced impairment.

How the Social Model Affects Provision

When services adopt the social model, provision changes in several ways:

• Buildings are adapted to be accessible to all
• Policies are reviewed to remove barriers to participation
• Staff receive training to improve awareness of disability issues
• Disabled people are included in decision-making about services

Educational settings following the social model might offer:

• Flexible timetables to meet diverse needs
• Materials in different formats such as large print, audio, or braille
• Support workers in classrooms
• Peer awareness programmes to challenge stereotypes

Health and social care services might ensure appointment systems are flexible, communication is inclusive, and environments are welcoming. Funding might be directed towards accessibility upgrades rather than only towards medical treatment.

How the Medical Model Affects Provision

Provision under the medical model focuses more on diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. It can lead to:

• Specialist health services aimed at curing or improving the impairment
• Assessments to determine what a person cannot do and what assistance they need
• Emphasis on medical records and clinical outcomes
• Less focus on changing social structures

Educational provision in this context might involve:

• Special schools or classes for children with impairments
• Programmes based on therapy and specialist input
• Priority on meeting medical or therapeutic goals

Health services following the medical model may prioritise appointments with consultants, medical equipment, and rehabilitation programmes. Funding is often directed towards healthcare services rather than environment changes.

Impact on Children and Young People

For children, these models lead to different experiences.

Under the social model, they may be more included in mainstream activities as adjustments are made for access. They can develop friendships in mixed settings and have more equal opportunities. Their voice is valued in planning support.

Under the medical model, children may spend more time in specialist environments or with medical staff. Interaction with peers may be reduced, which can affect social development. They can face a focus on their limitations rather than strengths.

Both models can provide benefits. For example, medical intervention can help manage pain or improve function, while social adjustments can help participation. The challenge is in balancing both so that children gain the full benefit of improved health and increased inclusion.

Advantages of the Social Model in Practice

• Encourages participation in mainstream society
• Reduces stigma by shifting focus away from deficit
• Builds environments that suit a wider range of people
• Promotes equality of opportunity

It aligns with laws such as the Equality Act 2010 which require organisations to make reasonable adjustments.

Limitations of the Social Model

• Can overlook the need for medical support
• May be challenging to implement without funding or training
• Some barriers are complex, such as those linked to attitudes in wider society

If used alone, it might ignore pain management or clinical needs that improve quality of life.

Advantages of the Medical Model in Practice

• Focuses on health improvement and management
• Can provide life-changing treatments
• Gives access to professional expertise and specialist care

Medical care can be vital for complex or progressive conditions, such as muscular dystrophy.

Limitations of the Medical Model

• Can lead to segregation from mainstream society
• May increase stigma and dependency
• Overlooks the role of the environment in shaping disability experience

By placing responsibility on the individual to adapt, it can ignore simple changes that enable wider inclusion.

Importance of Balancing Both Models

In real-world provision, effective support for disabled people often needs elements from both models. The social model ensures environments are inclusive. The medical model supports clinical and therapeutic needs.

For example, a child with cerebral palsy may need physiotherapy to improve mobility. This is a medical model approach. At the same time, the school can ensure classrooms are wheelchair accessible and peers are educated to understand difference, which reflects the social model.

Integration of both approaches can lead to stronger outcomes. This might involve:

• Joint planning between health, education and social services
• Involvement of the disabled person in service design
• Equal focus on social access and clinical care

Role of the Children and Young People’s Workforce

Workers in this sector need to understand both models. They should be able to:

• Identify barriers in the environment and work to remove them
• Support health and clinical needs in coordination with experts
• Listen to children and young people’s views about their own needs
• Promote equality and challenge discrimination

In everyday practice this may mean ensuring a child can join a class trip by arranging transport, while also supporting ongoing medical treatment.

Practical Examples in Provision

Example one: A school adopts the social model in its design by installing lifts and ramps, providing resources in different formats, and running disability awareness sessions. Medical support continues through visiting specialists who provide therapy.

Example two: A youth club provides inclusive activities by adapting sports rules to suit different abilities. Medical staff visit if a participant has health needs, such as asthma checks or medication oversight.

These examples show how combining both models can provide comprehensive support.

Policy Influence

The social model has influenced equality laws in the UK, such as the Equality Act 2010. This legislation requires reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people, reflecting the principle that barriers should be removed.

The medical model continues to influence healthcare policy, service provision and funding, with emphasis on treatments and clinical care.

Understanding these influences helps workers to anticipate the type of provision and the expectations within services.

Final Thoughts

The difference between the social model and medical model of disability is one of focus. One places responsibility on society to remove barriers. The other focuses on the person’s impairment and how to fix or manage it. Each has an impact on the way services are planned and delivered.

For children and young people, the most effective approach often involves drawing from both models. Removing barriers and promoting inclusion while supporting health and wellbeing leads to better outcomes. As a worker, being able to critically analyse these models means you can adapt your practice to meet the whole needs of the child or young person, both socially and medically.