Introduction: What is disability and who are disabled people?
By Martin Hobgen
This series of articles explores a number of different ways that disability is understood. One way of exploring this issue is through the use of ‘models of disability’ which have been described by sociologists.
These articles will explain how each model defines disability and therefore who disabled people are together with a linked article on the implications of each model for society and churches. A number of questions are included with the articles to prompt reflection and discussion.
The models are set out in historical order, the oldest and most common is the Medical Model of Disability, which is sometimes referred to as the Individual/Medical Model of Disability. This has its roots in the early 18th Century. The Social Model of Disability was developed in the late 20th century and is becoming the dominant understanding in the UK. The distinct US version of the Social Model is known as the Minority Group Model. The last pair of articles explores a Relational Model of Disability, where the focus is on inclusive relationships between disabled and non-disabled people. The Relational Model is connected to Baptist understandings of covenant relationships within and between congregations.
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