The Social Model of disability

MDF works within the Social Model of disability.

A "Model" in this sense just means a way of looking at a situation.

For example, one way of looking at disability has been called the Medical Model. Using the Medical Model, disability is seen as something that results from the individual's physical or mental limitations, and is something that medicine should be trying to cure or to make easier.

The Social Model, in contrast, says that any problem lies not with the person but with their environment.You may have a physical or mental impairment, but your disability results from an economic, social or political environment that is not arranged in a way that enables you to take part fully: an environment that puts barriers in place, either physical or in people's minds.

For example, if you have a mobility impairment you might need to use a wheel chair. But - under the Social Model - you are disabled when you can't get into a shop, or into your neighbour's house, or into a polling booth. 

29/4/08