Position Papers Toolkit

Labelling neurodivergent persons as disabled and using a “medical” model approach has been associated with negative stereotypes.
 

The medical model assumes that the disabled person’s autonomy is limited due to the impairment, therefore when medical professionals cannot cure or rehabilitate the persons, then he or she is considered as someone who have as a consequence a limited ability to participate in society. Social exclusion is an effect on that, the exclusion of people. Further  it also reinforced  the disabled person’s dependency. 
 

In an economic way persons with a disability were valued less, due to the fact that they are not economically productive or do not appear to be. The result of this was not only financial inequality but also social inequality.

As a reaction on this inequality the social model has been developed. Instead of focussing on the impairment itself, the social model focuses on society being the cause of the problem with disabling the individual.

In order to understand the social model it is important to distinguish “impairment” and “disability”. Impairment is attributed to functional limitation characterised by a physical or mental impairment. Disability is linked to the loss of opportunities in society caused by societies failure to break down the barriers (physical and social) , which hinders participation in society.
 

Impairment is central to the medical model and based on medical diagnoses rather than social barriers. Social barriers are the most important in hindering participation and inclusion of neurodivergent persons.

The social model is focussing on breaking down barriers. At European level the European Parliament  stated in the Resolution on the European Disability Strategy post 2020 that all persons with disabilities have equal rights in all fields of life (inclusion and access to an open labour market and education) and are entitled to in alienable dignity, equal treatment, independent living, autonomy and full participation in society, respecting and valuing their input to the social and economic progress of the European Union, where as more than half of the member states are depriving people suffering from mental, health problems or with an intellectual disability of their right to vote. 
 

The focus on breaking down barriers is an important step forward. By looking at what persons can do instead of what they can’t do gives perspective.
 

This does not say that accommodations should not be needed, in the contrary they are needed to facilitate persons to get included and be able to participate in society.