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The Social Model of Disability and Emancipatory Disability Research - Briefing Document

In many ways social scientists and researchers have been doing 'disability' research since at least the 1950s if not before. Although some of these studies have drawn attention to the economic and social inequalities encountered by disabled people, few have questioned the underlying cause of these problems. Most simply assumed that impairment of one kind or another was the main reason why disabled people were disadvantaged. The solution of course was 'cure' or 'care for' the individuals concerned.

In recent years however this has begun to change with the coming of the social model of disability and 'emancipatory' disability research. In view of recent controversies surrounding these terms, the aim of this briefing document is to set out our position on what is meant by the social model of disability and emancipatory disability research.

The Social Model of Disability

In the broadest sense the social model of disability is about nothing more complicated than a clear focus on the economic, environmental and cultural barriers encountered by people who are viewed by others as having some form of impairment - whether physical, sensory or intellectual. The barriers disabled people encounter include inaccessible education systems, working environments, inadequate disability benefits, discriminatory health and social support services, inaccessible transport, houses and public buildings and amenities, and the devaluing of disabled people through negative images in the media - films, television and newspapers.

The social model of disability can also be used to understand the family lives and personal relationships of disabled people. This is because the cultural environment in which we all grow up usually sees impairment as unattractive and unwanted. Consequently parents often don't know how to bring up a child born with impairment so their feelings and the way they treat them are dependent upon what they have learned about disability from the world around them. People who acquire impairment later in life also have to rely on this cultural backdrop and so it is not surprising that many people with and without impairments do not know how to respond. This helps to explain why, for some people, coming to terms with a disabled lifestyle represents a personal or family tragedy.

Furthermore, the social model of disability does not ignore questions and concerns relating to impairment and/or the importance of medical and therapeutic treatments. A social model perspective acknowledges that in many cases, the suffering associated with disabled lifestyles is due primarily to the lack of medical and other services.

The social model also recognizes that for many people coming to terms with the consequences of impairment in a society that devalues disabled people and disabled lifestyles is often a personal tragedy. But the tragedy is that our society, and increasingly other societies, continue to discriminate, exclude and oppress people viewed and labeled disabled and this is the subject matter of emancipatory disability research.

Emancipatory Disability Research

Emancipatory disability research emerged in 1991 from a series of seminars funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The emancipatory research agenda acknowledges that social research, as with all social activity is a political process, and can be characterised by seven core principles discussed below.

1. Control
   
   Unlike conventional approaches emancipatory disability research must fully involve disabled people from the beginning to the end of the research process. Non-disabled researchers may also be involved but they must be accountable throughout the entire research process to a research advisory group or committee controlled and run by disabled people.
   
   
2. Accountability
   
   Accountability extends to all those involved in the research process. Research procedures and practices must be open and explained to research participants and participating organisations. The findings and implications of research must be disseminated in appropriate formats all relevant audiences, especially to disabled people.
   
   
3. Empowerment
   
   Emancipatory research must attempt to leave disabled people in a better position to confront the disabling barriers in their lives and must not exploit their experiences for career benefits to researchers. Emancipatory disability research should produce knowledge, understanding and information that will have some meaningful practical outcomes for disabled people in their struggles to overcome the barriers faced in disabling societies.
   
   
4. The Social Model of Disability
   
   Emancipatory disability research should adhere to the social model of disability. This reflects the growing demand by disabled people for a more holistic approach to the problems commonly associated with disability. Emancipatory disability research focuses on the economic, environmental and cultural barriers encountered by disabled people and their families.
   
   
5. The Need for Rigour
   
   Researchers must ensure that their choice of research methodology and data collection strategies are logical, rigorous and open to public and academic scrutiny.
   
   
6. The Choice of Methods
   
   While emancipatory disability research has generally been associated with qualitative rather than quantitative data collection strategies; the choice of methods must adequately reflect the needs of the project concerned and the wishes of disabled people. However it is not the research strategies themselves that are the problem it is the uses to which they are put.
   
   
7. The Role of Experience
   
   Discussions of disabled people's experiences, narratives and stories should be couched firmly within an environmental and cultural context in order to highlight the disabling consequences of a society that is increasingly organised around the needs of a mythical, affluent non-disabled majority.
   
   

Further Reading

1. Barnes, C. and Mercer, G., (Eds) Doing Disability Research. Leeds, The Disability Press, 1997.
2. Clough, P. and Barton, L., (Eds) Making Difficulties: Research and the Construction of SEN. London, Paul Chapman, 1995.
3. Clough, P. and Barton, L., (Eds) (1999)Articulating with Difficulty:Research Voices in Inclusive Education. London, Paul Chapman Publishing, 1999.
4. Special Issue on researching disability. Disability, Handicap and Society, 1992, 7(2).
5. Kemshall, H. and Littlechild, R., (Eds) User Involvement and Participation in Social Care: Research Informing Practice. London, Jessica Kingsley Press, 2000.
6. Moore M., et al., Researching Disability Issues. Buckingham, Open University Press, 1998.
7. Rioux M and Bach B., Disability Is Not Measles. Canada, Roeher Institute, 1994.
8. Truman, C. et al., (Eds) Research and Inequality. London, UCL Press, 2000.

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