Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 116-132.

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Misunderstanding of the Social Model of Disability and Its Impact on Practice

HOSHIKA Ryoji,The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo   

  • Online:2015-11-20 Published:2015-11-20
  • Contact: HOSHIKA Ryoji,The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo E-mail:hoshika@p.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Abstract: This paper offers a sociological examination of the social model of disability, focusing on some of the misinterpretations of the Model. For instance, the lack of attention to the relationship between macrosocial structure and disability, the narrow focus on dualism of “disability and impairment”, and the disregard of the distinction between social welfare system and individual life. The paper questions any possible inner limits of the social model that causes such misinterpretations. There is a difficult balance between satisfying individual needs and protecting group rights for the disabled as often individual experiences conflict with public and political interests. The dualistic concept of “disability and impairment” of the social model is valuable as an analytic tool but in practice its overemphasis of political effectiveness might be problematic. In the view of the author, any attempt to change social attitudes and values must be rooted in practicality.The question regarding how the practicality of social model is possible presupposes an investigation about whether a disabling society is possible and whether an ableistic society has any advantages and disadvantages.

Key words: disability , practicality
,
social model