Page 23 - Mainstreamer Volume 1 Issue 2 Feb 2023

ARTICLE REVIEW

model that is an extension of the social model. a religious model of disability differs from that of a
This model suggests a realistic action. Proponents moral model, simply because the source of the law
seek to put pressure on international networks is not at the lowest echelon, moral law is arguably
to respond to disability in the context of human the idea that is derived from Natural Law. Since
rights, rather than just as a social construct. moral law is being lower in the hierarchy than
religious law, the meaning is completely different
Except for charitable, the remaining models— and may be contradictory.
cultural, economic, and limit models—are not
as visible as the social and human rights models. Second, all theologians, regardless of their
Under the cultural model, disability is understood beliefs, benefit from the nine models discussed
as a societal norm, which both the disabled and above. One might wonder what the problem is
the non-disabled must understand. This model in a theological scholarship about the logic of
is an extension of the medical and social model, specific models. For instance, it is unclear in this
which fails to recognize the importance of societal paper how models such as human rights, identity
norms and beliefs. However, cultural model is not formation, and the social model could contradict
widely used since religious and social models are with the teachings of a particular religion. This
seen as more important. might be because it is outside the paper’s scope.
Nevertheless, any serious readers would certainly
The charitable model is obvious since society be interested in this subject, hence even a small
must take action to help and protect the clue would have been helpful.
disabled groups. This model is adopted by many
governments. Although disability is seen as a Overall, it is a highly intriguing and instructive
burden by society, this model benefits many poor paper, with the nine models serving as a
and disabled individuals. framework for conducting a countrywide survey
on how disabled and non-disabled people perceive
The economic model is rather straightforward. disability.
It uses the cost-benefit analysis to determine
how the disabled may contribute to economic
development. Although legislations are created
to provide equal employment opportunities for
persons with disabilities, the calculation of profits
and losses is always a factor for any form of
decision-making.

The final model is the limit model. This model
carries a religious undertone. Its major point is
that everyone is differently abled and differently
disabled. Everyone may be capable in certain areas
yet may have limits in others. Indeed, disability
might be a limitation, but all disabled persons have
something that abled persons do not.

I have two comments to make based on the
discussions. Firstly, since the article is targeted
towards religious groups, “moral” and “religious”
are assumed to be synonymous. In popular
tradition, the logic of law is understood to follow
three degrees of hierarchy. God’s Law (revelations)
is the highest degree, Positive Law (man-made
law) is the lowest, and Natural Law (God-made
law) is somewhere in between. While the notion of

Vol. 01, Issue 2 | February 2023 22