Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Carol Thomas

Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Original Articles

Authors

Carol Thomas

Abstract

This paper considers some of the themes to be found in current UK debates about the social model of disability. It commences with a review of the origins and key features of the social model, then moves on to an examination of current critiques of its efficacy. The argument advanced is that the radical ideas that laid the foundation for the social model of disability contain a social relational kernel that now needs to be rescued and developed. A rescue is required because this social relational understanding of disability has become over‐shadowed by the social model itself as the latter has risen in stature, and has been obscured in the heat of recent debates about the model's strengths and weaknesses.

Year: 2004

Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Page/Article: 22-36

DOI: 10.1080/15017410409512637

Published on Jul 1, 2004

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

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Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Original Articles

Abstract

References