Page 22 - Mainstreamer Volume 1 Issue 2 Feb 2023

Models of Disability: a Brief Overview

Retief, M., & Letšosa, R. (2018)

Reviewed by Dr. Makmor Tumin

concludes with the reviewer’s takeaway points.

First, the moral/religious model will be
discussed. This category has 3 sub-models. The
first sub-model interprets disability as a curse or
punishment for the sins of the disabled individuals,
their families or even their forefathers. The second,
which is more humane, explains disability as a test
of faith, with disability opening up the potential of
spiritual healing. The third, which has an element
of mysticism, suggests that disabilities weaken
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Title: Model of disability: a brief overview, in HTS body parts, thus naturally improving human
Model
Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 74(1). beings’ inner beauty. Owing to this, disability gives
Year: 2018 the person with more opportunities and power to
Author: Retief, M., & Letšosa, R. become a conscious being.
Genre: Non-fiction The second is the medical model, which
Publisher: HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies views disability as something negative. Disability
is seen as a problem under this model, with
medical treatment or therapy being the second
best solution, and the disabled person’s attitude
he statement “all humans are differently towards the treatment being the best.
abled and differently disabled” reveals
Thuman society’s potentials and limits. It The social model was developed as a critical
also makes a point about people’s perceptions response to the medical model. Based on this
of society. In the disability model discourse, model, disability is a social perception. People
this is known as the limitless or limit model of with disabilities are seen as second-class citizens
disability. Despite the availability of a model for the same way as women and black people were
understanding disability, many conversations in the past. Due to this construct, the society has
suggest that the majority of people are unaware created a barrier to opportunities for the disabled.
of its existence. Retief and Letšosaz (2018) explain Advocates who adopt the social model of disability
in their article titled “Models of disability” (2018) fight to remove such barriers so that disabled
that there are (at least) nine models of disability: individuals can fully participate in society.
moral/religious, medical, social, identity, human The identity model or formation identity model
rights, cultural, charitable, economic, and limit has been incorporated into the social model.
model. Disability, under this model, is an identity. One

This review is divided into three parts. The first may be proud of being disabled, just as one can be
part discusses the first three models, the second is proud of any other identity.
a response to the first three models, and the third The human rights model of disability is another

21 Vol. 01, Issue 2 | February 2023