The Social Model is a way of thinking about disability that is based in human rights.
It recognises that we are disabled by social and environmental factors (stares and stairs), not our individual conditions or impairments. Under the social model of disability, it is the societal barriers that are considered to be the obstacles to a person’s equal participation.
At Access2Arts we use the term ‘disability’ in the context of the internationally recognised social model of disability, which describes disability as a social construct.
Person-first language (people with disability) and identity-first language (disabled people) are both used in Australia. People with disability often have strong preferences for one term or the other, so at Access2Arts we do our best to ask and respect the preference of the person.
When this is not possible or practical, Access2Arts will prefer identity-first terminology, as this is more broadly preferred in the disability arts community we represent.
We think a lot.
We think about disability.
We make a difference between impairment and disability.
Impairment means a medical condition, illness or injury that effects the way our body or mind works.
Disability: means that people with an impairment miss out on opportunities because of barriers society has made.
Barrier means a problem that stops access.
We use the word disability to mean barriers created by society.
Barriers = Disability
Everyone in society have to work together to break down the barriers.
This is called the Social Model of Disability.
Access2Arts uses the Social Model of Disability.
We don’t want to get confused about the body (impairment) and the social (disabled).
So we don't get confused we use the words disabled people and non-disabled people.
We think about Rights
Everyone has human rights. They are based on dignity, equality and respect.
Your rights are about being treated fairly. Treating other people fairly and making choices about your own life.
Everyone’s rights are equal.
It does not matter if you are young or old, a women or a man, black or white, disabled or non-disabled. The law says we all have the same rights.
UN Convention on Disability Rights
The Australian Government has signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability.
This Convention trys to make sure that all Deaf and disabled people around the world have the same rights as non-disabled people and are treated equally.
Disability is a normal part of life so Deaf and disabled people should be given their human rights.
On Our Thinking website page you can watch two videos about the UN Convention on Disability Rights
What we think about Equality and Diversity
Equality is based on your human right to participate in your own community.
Diversity means difference
Everyone is individual and different.
What we think about creativity
Creativity lets people express themselves.
What we think about the arts
Disability is part of being human.
Disabled people have different stories to tell.
Different stories make the arts interesting and better.