What is social model of disability?

You may have heard the term ‘social model of disability’ before, but what does it mean in regard to disability?

The social model of disability basically says that disability is caused by the way society is organised as opposed to the person’s impairment. Attitudes found in society based on prejudice, stereotype also disable people from having equal opportunities in society.

The medical model of disability:

The medical model of disability is basically the opposite. It states that people are disabled by their impairments or differences. It looks at what is wrong with the person and not what the person actually needs to support them. Under this model, it is believed that the person with the disability should be changed or fixed by medical procedures. Even if the disability causes no pain or any kind of illness.

Here is an example of the social and medical model in practice:

A teenager with a learning disability wants to live independently but is unsure how to pay the rent. Under the social model of disability, this person would be supported to live in their own home and pay the rent. The medical model would expect people to live in a communal home.

The social model and medical model are essentially two conflicting arguments. The social model was created by people with disabilities. The medical model says:

• Your disability needs curing
• You need professionals to look after to you
• You are the problem
• You can never be as equal as a non disabled person

The social model in contrast recognises barriers and negative attitudes and any exclusion from society, whether that is intentional or not.

There is a video by the charity Scope which helps explain the subject: https://youtu.be/0e24rfTZ2CQ

So many of us will relate to those difficult mornings, you know the ones with meltdowns, lost shoes and a pack lunch that you buy at the corner shop on route to school but what if there were ways to help?

Now these steps are not magical answers and will not help for all children but have been tried and recommended by other families of children with additional needs and if they can help – well they have to be worth a try so good luck and let us know how you get on.

1) Prepare in advance:

The more that is ready the less you need to prepare in the morning and the less opportunities there are for things to go wrong – so lunches in the fridge, bags packed, outfits/items for clubs found, homework checked and done and outfits ready laid out to wear (ideally in backwards chaining order – please ask if you need details with this.) If you can set out your outfit as well its all precious time saved in the morning. If your feeling particularly organised then can you have breakfast ready to go in containers to save even more time.

If its a new school/ childminder/ club then make sure that the child knows where they are going in advance and ideally has met people and knows what is expected of them to avoid difficulties with not knowing where they are going and anxiety.

Consider whether a social story would help – these are great for explaining any concepts that your child finds difficult and particularly struggles with.

If you are trying to get your child to be more independent then get them helping prepare the night before and in the morning make it into a game or a race so that it is more fun and they are more likely to want to get involved. If you can chunk a job and then a small reward than even better.

2) Sleep:

Getting up on time starts the night before. Below is a table recommending sleep times for different ages this ensures that they get the right amount of sleep for their age but also so they can concentrate better at school. This table is from Wilson Elementary. Children with additional needs often struggle with sleep but it is so important to get right so if it is an area that your little one does struggle with then its important to ask for help in order to get the best start for your little one but also for your sanity – everything is harder if you are tired.

3) Leave yourself spare time:

Realistically if something can go wrong with children it will. If you leave extra time in the schedule for this it will avoid you running late when there’s a meltdown over a lost shoe. If you are ready to go 15 mins before you need to leave the house it will either provide a buffer on those difficult days meaning you are still on time or allow you time to relax with your little one.

In a ideal world consider having a visual time table so your child knows exactly what is coming next and can check things off as you work through the morning routine. These are particularly helpful for helping with getting teeth brushed and anything bathroom related whilst also building independence skills.

4) Find shoes

If your house is anything like mine shoes are the bane of my life! Honestly I swear just putting them next to the front door in a pair saves me at least 15 mins every morning.

5) You time: 

I know it sounds unrealistic and your there thinking that its just not possible but even if you can only manage being up 10 mins before the children those 10 minutes can be used to have a cup of tea, relax and mentally set yourself up for the day. The calmer you are the better you are able to provide calm and clear instructions and that will help reduce arguments, lateness and meltdowns.

AND FOR WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG …. CHEAT!!!

We all have those days and if its my house its most days – so keep a hair brush and bobbles etc in the car so you look more organised and a stash of breakfast bars in the glove box as even if you get the children out on time I bet there’s times the children are fed but you are not.

Sensory toys in the little pouch behind seats to calm them down on route

Pick your battles – is it really the end of the world if you have to take them to school in those pink glittery wellies again or in their pjs?

Please note: This blog post has been submitted anonymously by one of our parents, this is not necessarily the view of Little Miracles.

Did you know that the number of disability hate incidents is higher than the number of religious or homophobic hate incidents? Mencap’s ‘Living in Fear’ report (published in 2000) found that:

• Almost 9 in 10 people with a learning disability surveyed had experienced bullying or harassment in the past year – an incredible 88%
• Of these, two thirds (66%) of people were victims regularly and one third (32%) were being bullied on a daily or weekly basis
• Three quarters (73%) of people had experienced bullying or harassment in a public place
• Half (47%) of the people surveyed had suffered verbal abuse, and a quarter (23%) had been physically assaulted.

Before my first grandchild was born, we found out that he was going to be born with complex disabilities. I had experience with additional needs as my own child was also born with a disability. However, being a grandparent to an additional needs child was a whole new experience but I have since gone on to have a three out of my ten grandchildren have a disability of varying levels.

I was extremely worried about both my daughter and my grandchild. I was very fortunate my husband was there for me. Being able to talk to someone about your problems is both therapeutic and beneficial. The first time I saw my grandson I just fell in love with him completely. When I got to hold him, I was just like any other grandparent. I even had my photo taken and I wanted to show him off to everyone as soon as I got home. Yet nothing can prepare you for trying to support your own child when they are facing losing their own child.  There are no books that you can read to make that situation better as a mother it hurts to see my child in pain yet know there is nothing I can say or do to relive that pain.

Unfortunately, I was barraged with questions: “will he make it?” “Will he be normal?” It hurt so much to hear all of this. I even cried myself to sleep a few times. Eventually, I just stopped telling my friends about when his next op was. It was just much easier to keep it private, only telling family because at least they understood how I felt.

One of the hardest days for me was when people came to look at my grandchild but they didn’t see a child. They only saw the machines and his conditions and didn’t treat him as a baby. I just wanted to shout at the top of my voice: “he is just a child, why are you doing this?!”

The highlight of Little Miracles is that the children can just be children. It is a joy to see them having fun and running around without any worries. I have been with Little Miracles for many years now and it is a pleasure to see my grandson play with the other children and be treated like a child.  I am fortunate to have talked to many of the parents and grandparents at the start of their journey. I really hope it has helped them to feel like someone has been there for them, someone to talk to. Someone to listen.

When I am with other grandparents, we talk about grandkids and I am so proud of mine. They have achieved things the doctors said they never would have e.g. walking, talking etc. I have learnt so much, for example- using machines to keep them alive, to give inhalers for their asthma, to make sure they have the right cup for their drink (colours really do matter), to count carbs, to do blood tests and even give my grandaughter an insulin injection on her leg.  For many they are worried about what the future holds, what to say and are scared to of upsetting their own child more but saying something is always better than saying nothing.

After all of this however, the biggest lesson I have learnt is that children won’t listen to the doctors when they tell them they can’t do something. They will always strive to achieve something even if it takes them a little while longer and my role is to support my children so that they can help my grandchildren reach their full potential.  To be their sounding board and the person that they can rely on when they are not feeling strong and when they need to rant, shout and cry.

My grandchildren are all so special to me and they have learnt the biggest lesson of all. To see each other as friends and not be defined by their disability.