The Human Rights Model of Ability

Posted in Sandi's blog on 14 December 2010 | 0 Comments

I am frequently aggrieved by social injustice and inequality, more so in this digital age as there is enough information, both scientific and anecdotal, to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are all different and we all deserve to be treated equally in all aspects of our lives. But this is not how things are in our so-called civilised democracy, so something's gotta give.

I am not particularly enamoured with the labels currently used to reference and group people with impairments so that they can exercise certain human rights in order to be socially included. Although I understand that these labels provide the structure necessary for the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be properly implemented, I am concerned that for some groups it causes greater stigmatisation, isolation and polarisation than they experienced before western countries created legislation for every "ism" there is.

I know full well that such legislation is absolutely necessary, as without it I would certainly be without a paddle, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it or that it should remain unmodified if it is potentially doing a disservice to those it is meant to protect.

The Medical Model of Disability identified and treated impairments as defects.

The Social Model of Disability aims to assert the rights of those with impairments to participate in society.

So as I see it, where we are now is that we fix, treat, modify or adapt, as ways to include those whose impairments are not only deemed as "abnormalities", but whose entire beings seem to be defined by a label that should merely identify a trait, characteristic or impairment. It inadvertently manages to define the person as a whole, as being "abnormal".

If we adhere to either of the existing models, then ergo, this means that "normal" is what we should all be aiming for, and in my view this would make for a dreadfully boring existence. And anyhow, who is it that is ultimately making this ginormous value judgment? I am not suggesting that social inclusion is not the goal, but I am concerned that If we carry on uber-normalising, then we will end up in a beige and banal world of over conformance and mediocrity.

I am therefore proposing a new model. I call it "The Human Rights Model of Ability". Under this model, impairments are seen as just that – impairments. Any other traits or characteristics that contribute to making each person unique, do not define or denote a person's overall state of ability or who or what they are as a human being, thus removing the detrimental labels that only serve to subject the individual to stigmatisation, discrimination and exclusion.

The Human Rights Model of Ability it is for me, then. Just call me human.

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