Hi, I'm sophiesoph! I'm studying social model of disability in the workplace.

sophiesoph

I hope this is allowed I'm currently doing my nvq level 5 and I have to write about the social models of disability and how they structure organisations I was wondering if you have any feedback I could use please if this is not allowed please tell me and I will delete it 

Cher_Alumni

Hi @sophiesoph and a warm welcome to our online community.  How are you today?

I've moved your thread to our 'News and opportunities' category as this is the home of all our research type requests.  Am I right in thinking any feedback you receive will be anonymised or used to guide the direction of your essay?  If you will be directly citing comments and storing members details, please email the team at community@scope.org.uk so we can run through a few things with you and verify the opportunity is safe for our members to participate in.

Also - when you say how they structure organisations, what do you mean?  The social model of disability is a way of describing how people are disabled.  It differs from the traditional 'medical model of disability' by centring external factors, and not the impaired body, as the cause of disability.   So, applied to a workplace this would mean that a person's visual impairment wouldn't be the reason for not being able to carry out a task - i.e. working with computers - but rather disability would emanate from a lack of assistive technology to accommodate their impairment.  Here's more about the social model on Scope's website.  

I hope that helps and good luck with your NVQ 

sophiesoph

Hi cher no I just need to gather information so no names are mentioned I gather then add to essay the questions are :

Analyse how different theoretical models of disability shape organisational structures and outcomes

Analyse how agreed ways of working can promote particular models of disability

I would just like to go as in depth as possible with these answers.

Thank you for your help and also advice 

Cher_Alumni

@sophiesoph Ah, I see.  That is a huge question with so many aspects to consider.  I'd probably start off with a mind-map and look at how a hypothetical employee would negotiate working for that organisation from recruitment (accessibility of adverts and interview processes - do they presume able bodied candidates?) to working arrangements and policy (Flexible working?  Reasonable adjustments?  Inclusivity of sick policies?).  Then there's attitudes and the workplace ethos to consider, is it ultra competitive?  Is the onus on the employee to be 'resilient' and overcome barriers themselves?  You could tie in how dominant economic/political forces such as capitalism and neoliberalism have impacted and promoted individualistic (medical model) ways of working.  

Anyhow, I'll leave that with you    Also, I'm not sure if you are aware but the University of Leeds have a free to access 'disability archive' storing many journal articles produced by eminent disability theorists.  I'd recommend starting by looking at the work of Colin Barnes around work and disability.