Social Model Explained

Part 1 of 5 in our Social Model of Disability Blog Series…

Click here to jump to Easy Read version.

A pink rectangle takes up the bottom half of the image, containing the white heading "Social Model of Disability". White background with 2 teal semi-circles above this, cutouts of the "P" Passenger Assistance logo. Circular photo on the right shows a hand holding a white and gold sign which reads "let's get social" in capital letters and black font. The Passenger Assistance logo sits top left, a teal P with Passenger Assistance to its right in black.

The History

In the 1960s and 1970s, the UK Disabled People’s Rights Movement was gaining momentum. Disabled people began to collectively challenge social exclusion, and demand equal access. 

This included challenging problematic and unhelpful frameworks for understanding disability at the time, including the Medical and Charity Models of Disability – more on those later in the series! 

The Social Model of Disability has its roots in the work of the UPIAS (Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation). The union pushed to move away from the narrative of disability as a medical or charity issue, to a civil rights and equality issue. 

The Social Model was given its name in 1983 by Mike Oliver, a disabled academic and activist who is widely recognised as one of the instrumental advocates for the model.

Key Messaging

  1. People are disabled by barriers in their environment, not by their impairment or difference. 
  2. There are many types of barriers. For example, barriers can be physical, attitudinal, or related to information and communication. 
  3. By identifying disabling barriers, we can remove them. The Social Model acts as a tool to drive social change. 

At Transreport

We are aligned to the Social Model of Disability and envision an inclusive world for all. 

Our Passenger Assistance technology was developed in direct response to societal barriers to access, to simplify the process of requesting assistance for journeys for Disabled people. 

We believe that everyone should experience equal access to safe, dignified, inclusive travel.

Pale grey background with a set of teal speech marks top left. The central quote reads "the social model is not about the personal experience of impairment but the collective experience of disablement" in black and pink text. "- Mike Oliver" is underneath in grey.

Easy Read Version

Graphic of a brown book with "History" on its cover in gold. To the right of the graphic, text reads "The Social Model of Disability began in the 1960s with the UK Disabled People's Rights Movement. It was given its name by a Disabled academic Mike Oliver in 1983." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of a blue barrier with a circular red no entry sign in the middle of it. To the right of the graphic, text reads "The Social Model says people are disabled by barriers in the world around them." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of a raised hand with a pink circle overlapping the palm which contains a white "x". Text to the right of the graphic reads "A barrier is something which makes you less able to take part." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of an orange and white striped rectangular barrier. Text to the right of the graphic reads "Barriers can be: Physical, Attitudes, Information" in a bullet point list. Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of a man with short brown hair, a white shirt, navy trousers and brown shoes, kicking a grey barrier with has smashed to pieces. Text to the right of the graphic reads "Understanding what the barriers are means we can remove them." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of a pink brain with arms, legs and a smiley face, holding a yellow lightbulb. Text to the right of the graphic reads "The Social Model of Disability is a way of thinking about disability. It can change the way people think." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Teal P Passenger Assistance logo. To the right, text reads "We use the Social Model of Disability at Transreport. We created our Passenger Assistance technology to reduce barriers." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.
Graphic of a grey and green train with yellow headlights, show from the front on a grey track beside a grey platform. Text to the right of the graphic reads "Everyone should have safe and inclusive travel." Black text on a white background with a teal frame.