Chronic Illness Inclusion Blog post: It’s not ME, it’s you – can the chronically ill embrace the social model?

http://inclusionproject.org.uk/social-model/its-not-me-its-you/

 

many people think that is all the social model is saying.

that is /not/ all it is saying!

it deliberately contrasts with the disease model. impairment is downplayed. disease [i.e. "limited and sick and needing treatment" as opposed to only "limited"] is extremely downplayed and usually ignored as if it did not exist.

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i believe there are better ways to demand accommodation.

like demanding accommodation directly without a superstructure of a social theory that excludes many pwd from the disability movement.

 

Looking at the history of disability rights, whatever the problems with the social model it seems that it's been politically useful.

 

social model sounds good but remember many right wing politicians believe there is no such thing as society . margeret thatcher was quoted as saying/believing this . politicians with similar views know divide and conquer strats will get them of the hook for short periods of time so todays problems are left to the next government/generation constantly spinning the media narrative into blaming the next minority for its failings and the failings of previous governments.

 

An observation I have is that in Ireland anyway some people with visible disabilities get dozens of hours of personal assistance to allow them not be that disabled by their disability e.g. the Leaders programme, yet people with chronic illnesses such as ME can struggle to get one or 2 hours a week of personal assistance or home help (many are given no hours). Resources do not seem to be fairly allocated.

Society probably can't afford to give that big a percentage of the population dozens of hours of personal assistance if too many people are deemed eligible. Resources are limited. Often the social model seems to be described in a way that suggests that there are infinite resources to allow people not to be disabled.

Similarly with work, it's all very well saying employers should accommodate people with chronic illnesses who may not be reliable in terms of getting the work done and who may go out sick. But most work effectively has deadlines. So it's not necessarily practical or realistic that everyone would be employed.

 

For many others, it's also a matter of society not investing any money into biomedical research and doctor training that could help with diagnosis. 90% of those with ME/CFS remain undiagnosed in the US,.

For example, I could have definitely worked more years (part-time) if I had been able to ask for accommodation at work. But you can't ask for accommodation when there is nothing diagnosed to accommodate.