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We believe that access to buildings, transport, the environment, services and information is the right of all people in society but at the moment, most places and services are not designed to include disabled people. Architects and designers Although there are increasing numbers of technical and professional people promoting better access, we constantly come across situations where even the minimum access standards are not implemented correctly or to best practice. Often architects, designers, engineers and other professionals do not take into account the experience of disabled people or do not understand the reasons for implementing best practice standards. There is also a great deal of confusion about the relationship between Part M of the Building Regulations and the Disability Discrimination Act and how they affect the design of new buildings or material alterations. We can advise on minimum standards and what should be considered to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, Building Regulations and Planning guidance. Medical model approach Similarly, in the provision of services, there are still too many people who take decisions on behalf of disabled people and do not consult disabled people about their experience, preferences or needs. Many of the government regulations and codes of practice are inconsistent, are based on a medical model and do not meet disabled people's requirements. Social model approach We work within the social model of disability, which was developed as a way of understanding and promoting more inclusive ways for disabled people to participate in society. |
MDPAG promotes the development of good access standards which maximise independence. Cross-impairment approach We take into account physical, sensory, cognitive and other impairments, but operate on a cross-impairment basis. It is not usually necessary to know about the detailed medical or impairment issues faced by individuals to provide good access. Using best practice standards It is more practical and more inclusive to work to best practice standards around issues which are inclusive for everyone such as standards for door entry systems, doors, lighting, obstacles, toilets and showers, steps, stairs and ramps, fixtures and fittings, interior design, signage and wayfinding etc. A sample checklist of issues is available for use in our section on writing Design and Access Statements and information is also available in the Design for Access 2 manual. Use of space and facilities Our standards are based upon legislation, experience, the social model of disability, current technology and best practice from existing codes of practice. We aim to ensure that people can effectively use services and buildings for the purpose they were developed. For example, we would not consider a restaurant or coffee bar accessible, if a disabled person had to sit at a different table from their friends, colleagues or family, or if the tables and chairs were so high that a disabled person could not participate in any conversation at the same level. We would expect a place, such as a bar, using high tables and chairs, also to provide alternative seating and tables for others to use. We do not consider shops that have split levels and no lift, with many items upstairs or downstairs, to be accessible, as a disabled person does not have the opportunity to browse and choose as others can. |
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The Individual or Medical Model of Disability This explains ways in which disabled people are stereotyped or judged, when a person is placed at the centre as the "problem". The person is considered "defective", "different" or "not normal" and is often described or believed to be:
For more information, training, and discussions around these issues, contact your local disabled people's group or contact us at admin@mdpag.org.uk |
The Social Model of Disability This is an alternative way of understanding access issues and social exclusion and sees the problem as a "disabling world". All the following issues are examples of situations which can be changed and allow disabled people to participate in mainstream society.
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Acknowledgements: These versions of the social and medical models of disability have been developed from models developed by Unison NW and Pam Thomas. See also the information in "Guidelines for Accessible Meetings and Events" published by the Disabled People's Network, Community Network for Manchester, and available in different formats from the Disabled People's Network or MDPAG. More information, articles and academic papers on the social model of disability and other disability issues are available at: The British Council of Disabled People (BCODP), and "Social Model or Unsociable Muddle?" from Disability Awareness in Action and from the Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds. |
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last updated 4.2.2008
