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• 1 2021-05-20T15:34:49-04:00 Four Models for Approaching Disability 11 plain 2021-05-20T22:25:05-04:00
  “Historically, a deficit perspective of people with disabilities and deaf people led to the use of research designs that largely ignored the cultural and linguistic uniqueness found in the deaf community and created many challenges for deaf researchers” (Wilson & Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 266)
  1. The Charity Model
  The charity model was, and still is, used by some humanitarian aid organizations and religious organizations when working with disabled folks. Under this model, disabled people are viewed as being powerless and possessing handicaps (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 268). Although these charitable organizations often establish rehabilitation centers, churches, and health clinics for marginalized disabled people, the charity model is disrespectful and infantilizing to disabled people because it does not recognize their inherent capabilities, skills, and worth. As part of this model, the World Bank coined the term “Disability-Adjusted Life Year” to describe how the value of a disabled life compared to the value of an able-bodied life (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 268).
  2. The Medical Model
  The medical model prioritizes treating disabled people in order to make them as close to “normal” as possible. In the context of deafness this means that deafness is seen only as a medical condition, and not a culture. Under the medical model of viewing disability, deaf people are considered “impaired” and medical devices like cochlear implants are used to try to rectify the “impairment” (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 268). This means that deaf people are less likely to be fully integrated into deaf culture because they are told that living a life without hearing is insufficient (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 268).
  3. The Social Model
  The social model of viewing disability and deafness uses both qualitative and quantitative data to understand disabled peoples’ experiences. This model emphasizes the voices of disabled people, especially as they describe the ways in which society limits their potential because of a deficit perspective on their disability (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, p. 269). Though this model focuses on gathering data and collecting stories about the ways disabled people are marginalized in society (a much-needed activity) the research methods used to gather this data were not always egalitarian or culturally responsive (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, pp. 269-270). 
  4. The Human Rights Model
  The human rights model views disabled people as full people, with their own capabilities and talents (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, pp. 270). It grew out of an increase in international treaties and conventions mentioning disability. In the context of deafness, the human rights model acknowledges deaf peoples’ right to choose to use sign language (Wilson and Winiarczyk, 2014, pp. 270). The human rights model has also highlighted a need for more deaf people working in humanitarian aid organizations, development organizations, and international organizations.