Developing a model of disability that focuses on the actions of disabled people

Abstract

Disabled people, writers on disability and disability activists stress the importance of disabled people being included in all aspects of society. I argue that a major omission from this inclusiveness is that no current model of disability focuses on the impact of the actions of disabled people on disability. Disabled people are not passive bystanders, powerless to reduce the restrictions of disability. On the contrary, we are central to actively limiting its constraints. I develop a model of disability, called 'active' , which focuses on the effects on disability of the individual and collective actions of disabled people. I describe published findings which indicate that engaging in self-help, using support groups and deploying assistive technology can all reduce the limitations of disability. Recent increases in the number of disability support groups and developments in assistive technology have substantially augmented the potential for disabled people to combat the effects of disability. Points of interest• This article develops the active model of disability, which focuses on the impact of the actions of disabled people on disability.• These actions encompass both individual activity (e.g. self-help) and collective activity (e.g. disability activism). • This model is timely, as the recent increase in the availability of self-help information and support groups has substantially boosted the potential for disabled people to limit the constraints of their own disabilities.• This article presents published findings that engaging in self-help, using support groups and deploying assistive technology have all reduced the effects of disability. • It examines the limited role of disabled people in current models of disability and compares the active model with other models. • Moreover, it argues that both the active and social models can motivate research that improves disabled people's lives (emancipatory research).• Finally, it contends that the understanding of the complexities of disability can be facilitated, by using multiple, complementary models.

Modelling the information seeking and searching behaviour of users with impairments: are existing models applicable?

“…The third criterion addresses the use of assistive technology, which is commonly applied by people with impairments, and have the potential of reducing limitations related to certain impairments (Levitt, 2017). Further, such technology may have an impact on how users solve information needs, and compatibility issues can create barriers towards information seeking and searching (Sahib et al, 2014).…”

Para uma nova arte de viver: os espaços e as práticas de reabilitação da pessoa com deficiência visual

“…Especificamente, a assistência de tais dispositivos pode retratar usuários como vulneráveis ou incapazes, levando a interações sociais problemáticas, e mínima utilização dos recursos, mesmo quando a tecnologia permite autonomia (Bennett, Brady & Branham, 2018). Levitt (2017), 'Há uma história em que a voz das pessoas com deficiência é silenciada nas discussões sobre a deficiência'. Frente essa problemática, as restrições da deficiência seriam combatidas particularmente bem se as pessoas com deficiência e as demais pessoas da sociedade trabalhassem juntas para reduzir seu impacto pela via da promoção dos direitos humanos de cada cidadão.…”

Розвиток У Сучасній Соціальній Роботі Підходів, Орієнтованих На Сильні Сторони Клієнтів

“…Один із ключових елементів цього підходу можна вважати конструювання позитивної ідентичності [14], тобто процес побудови сподіваної та наполегливої впевненості в собі більш очевидно пов'язаний із концепцією резілієнс (життєстійкості). Соціальні працівники ґрунтують свою діяльність з огляду на підтверджені дослідженнями [27] ідеї, що, попри труднощі, які зазнали ці клієнти, вони все ще здатні вистояти і вірити, що зможуть подолати шанси та досягти бажаного рівня успіху.…”