From DisabiltyConvention:- From: spiritfighter2003
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Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 7:35 AM
Subject: [DisabilityConvention] Fwd: Social Model on disability
The Social Model of Disability and Emancipatory Disability Research -
Briefing Document
In many ways social scientists and researchers have been doing 'disability'
research since at least the 1950s if not before. Although some of these
studies have drawn attention to the economic and social inequalities
encountered by disabled people, few have questioned the underlying cause of
these problems. Most simply assumed that impairment of one kind or another
was the main reason why disabled people were disadvantaged. The solution of
course was 'cure' or 'care for' the individuals concerned.
In recent years however this has begun to change with the coming of the
social model of disability and 'emancipatory' disability research. In view
of recent controversies surrounding these terms, the aim of this briefing
document is to set out our position on what
is meant by the social model of disability and emancipatory disability
research.
The Social Model of Disability
In the broadest sense the social model of disability is about nothing more
complicated than a clear focus on the economic, environmental and cultural
barriers encountered by people who are viewed by others
as having some form of impairment - whether physical, sensory or
intellectual. The barriers disabled people encounter include inaccessible
education systems, working environments, inadequate disability benefits,
discriminatory health and social support services, inaccessible transport,
houses and public buildings and amenities, and the devaluing of disabled
people through negative
images in the media - films, television and newspapers.
The social model of disability can also be used to understand the family
lives and personal relationships of disabled people. This is because the
cultural environment in which we all grow up usually sees
impairment as unattractive and unwanted.
Consequently parents often don't know how to bring up a child born with
impairment so their feelings and the way they treat them are dependent upon
what they have learned about disability from the world around them. People
who acquire impairment later in life also have to rely on this cultural
backdrop and so it is not surprising that many people with and
without impairments do not know how to respond.
This helps to explain why, for some people, coming to terms with a disabled
lifestyle represents a personal or family tragedy.
Furthermore, the social model of disability does not ignore questions and
concerns relating to impairment and/or the importance of medical and
therapeutic treatments. A social model perspective acknowledges that in many
cases, the suffering associated with disabled lifestyles is due primarily to
the lack of medical and other services.
The social model also recognizes that for many people coming to terms with
the consequences of impairment in a society that devalues disabled people
and disabled lifestyles is often a personal tragedy.
But the tragedy is that our society, and increasingly other societies,
continue to discriminate, exclude and oppress people viewed and labeled
disabled and this is the subject matter of emancipatory disability research.
Emancipatory Disability Research
Emancipatory disability research emerged in 1991 from a series of seminars
funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The emancipatory research
agenda acknowledges that social research, as with all social activity is a
political process, and can be characterised by seven core principles
discussed below.
Control
Unlike conventional approaches emancipatory disability research must fully
involve disabled people from the beginning to the end of the research
process. Non-disabled researchers may also be involved but they must be
accountable throughout the entire research process to a research advisory
group or committee controlled and run by disabled
people.
Accountability
Accountability extends to all those involved in the research process.
Research procedures and practices must be open and explained to research
participants and participating organisations. The findings and implications
of research must be disseminated in appropriate formats all relevant
audiences, especially to disabled people.
Empowerment
Emancipatory research must attempt to leave disabled people in a better
position to confront the disabling barriers in their lives and must not
exploit their experiences for career benefits to researchers. Emancipatory
disability research should produce
knowledge, understanding and information that will have some meaningful
practical outcomes for disabled people in their struggles to overcome the
barriers faced in disabling societies.
The Social Model of Disability
Emancipatory disability research should adhere to the social model of
disability. This reflects the growing demand by disabled people for a
more holistic approach to the problems commonly associated with disability.
Emancipatory disability research focuses on the economic, environmental and
cultural barriers encountered by disabled people and their families.
The Need for Rigour
Researchers must ensure that their choice of research methodology and data
collection strategies are logical, rigorous and open to public and academic
scrutiny.
The Choice of Methods
While emancipatory disability research has generally been associated with
qualitative rather than quantitative data collection strategies; the choice
of methods must adequately reflect the needs of the
project concerned and the wishes of disabled people. However it is not the
research strategies themselves that are the problem it is the uses to which
they are put.
The Role of Experience
Discussions of disabled people's experiences, narratives and stories should
be couched firmly within an environmental and cultural context in order to
highlight the disabling consequences of a society that is increasingly
organised around the needs of a mythical, affluent non-disabled majority.
Further Reading
Barnes, C. and Mercer, G., (Eds) Doing Disability Research. Leeds, The
Disability Press, 1997.
Clough, P. and Barton, L., (Eds) Making Difficulties: Research and the
Construction of SEN. London, Paul Chapman, 1995.
Clough, P. and Barton, L., (Eds) (1999)Articulating with Difficulty:Research
Voices in Inclusive Education. London, Paul Chapman Publishing, 1999.
Special Issue on researching disability. Disability, Handicap and Society,
1992, 7(2).
Kemshall, H. and Littlechild, R., (Eds) User Involvement and Participation
in Social Care: Research Informing Practice. London,
Jessica Kingsley Press, 2000.
Moore M., et al., Researching Disability Issues. Buckingham, Open University
Press, 1998.
Rioux M and Bach B., Disability Is Not Measles. Canada, Roeher Institute,
1994.
Truman, C. et al., (Eds) Research and Inequality. London, UCL Press, 2000.
Copyright © 2002-03 The British Council of Disabled People.
http://www.bcodp.org.uk/about/research.shtml
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