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- Page navigation anchor for RE: Social model of disability must be a core competency in newly developing Competency by Design medical education programmes in CanadaRE: Social model of disability must be a core competency in newly developing Competency by Design medical education programmes in Canada
Although I applaud Hogan’s article (1) for bringing the social model of disability to the attention of its extensive readership, as well as the need for more persons with disabilities to be able to attend medical school, the article is dismissive of the imperative that the social model of disability be prominent in all levels of medical education. The need for the social model of disability to replace the medical model has been called for by disability scholars for decades (2-4). Further, it has been emphasized that the social model and indeed all education promoting the health of persons with disabilities be designed and taught by persons with disabilities (2-4), honouring the concept “Nothing about us, without us” (5). This need was reinforced by our recent research interviewing Canadian women’s health physicians, whose transcripts displayed lack of knowledge of the legal rights of women with disabilities, and lack of understanding of how persons with disabilities see themselves and want to be seen (6). The physicians commented on their lack of any training in promoting the health of disabled persons, including no knowledge of the social model of disability (6). An immediate opportunity exists in Canada for “competency” in the health promotion of persons with disabilities to be included as a core “competency” in the newly developing “Competency by Design” undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programmes. Further, this competency should be based on the social...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for A call to recognize the value in disabilityA call to recognize the value in disability
It was a pleasure to read Hogan’s article on the social and medical models of disability in the most recent issue of the CMAJ. As someone who does work at the intersections of public health, disability studies, gender studies, and psychology, I was delighted to see Hogan’s eloquent summary of the history of the medical and social models of disability include the perspectives of some feminist disability scholars. What Liz Crow and other feminist disability scholars (1-3) argue is for was an embodied, relational understanding of disability, wherein disability is understood as simultaneously material or physical (i.e., in or of our bodies) and shaped by social interactions, discourses, and the environment around us (i.e., experienced through our bodies).
I found this to be the case in my own research on the pregnancy and motherhood experiences of women with physical disabilities (4-5). For women with physical disabilities, disability, while experienced as limiting and even frustrating in many ways, was also experienced as a sort of blessing in the perinatal period.
"I thought pregnancy was the hard part and it really wasn’t. It was easier than [I expected]. All the able-bodied women that I knew were complaining. … I had it [morning sickness] but I wasn’t awful… I think in part because I’ve been dealing with physical limitations for so long, I was like, 'this is it?' I think a lot of able-bodied women are like 'ugh, I don’t have control over...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: Social and medical models of disabilityRE: Social and medical models of disability
Disability whether it is physical or mental is both a social and medical phenomenon. Yet it requires that society addresses this issue with clarity and inclusiveness. Disability must not become a political slogan or a project for non-governmental social organizations (NGOs). It does not end with giving tools or aids to these people. They are part of the society and need to be included in the community without social discrimination and bias. They must be given equal opportunities in available resources of economic and social emancipation. It is known some of the greatest scientific minds and intellectuals have some form of disability. Therefore, the physical disability in certain cases bring the best out of the individual and providing a platform for their abilities is one of the social responsibilities of the society. It is vividly explained by the following statement:
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“the failure of a structured social environment to adjust to the needs and aspirations of citizens with disabilities rather than from the inability of the disabled individual to adapt to the demands of society.” (Hahn, H. 1986:128)
When it comes to mental health though it is included in some states as a disability, there is a wide gap between the policies and execution of that policy with respect to mental health issues. Still in many countries mentally compromised individuals are considered as outcasts, isolated or sometimes confined or chained like inhuman beings. The mental health policies of...Competing Interests: None declared.