There are 2 academic models authors can use to explore disabled characters. The “medical model” and the “social model.”
The medical model defines disability as a diagnosis. A condition to overcome. “
Medicalization of disabilities means that each person’s disability has its own individual pathology
and, therefore, its individual illness.
Though examining disability through this lens lends itself to individualizing disability,
it is focused more on how to cure the individual,
which is not always the best way to approach disabilities.” (Kirkpatrick, p.22)
From my perspective, the flaw in this model is its focus on fixing an individual’s disability.
Cerebral palsy is caused by a traumatic brain injury in utero or shortly after birth. In this medical model, I’m forced to “overcome” what went wrong when I was born.
Society’s Problem
The “social model” focuses on the world’s natural inaccessibility and bias. It defines disability as a “social construct.”
I don’t believe my disability is inherently “special” or otherwise not “normal.”
As a child, people always asked, “Do you wish you were born without your disability?”
I would say, “I never thought about that.”
So “I guess no, this is my normal.” I don’t know how it feels to have an injury that causes a disability later in life.
The “social model” is what literature draws on the most. Mermaids are one example.
“The important thing to note about impairment is that impairment does not keep a person from doing anything an able-bodied person can do; however, impairment can still hold the same stigmas as a disability, especially for an uneducated public.
A disability under this model is defined as a disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by social values or views which do not take into account people who have physical or mental impairments.
And thus excludes them from the participation in mainstream activities.” (Kirkpatrick, 23)
Whenever I use the term “able-bodied” I put it in air quotes. I can do what “able-bodied” people can do. Yet, I’m considered disabled.
Literature has the freedom to use this “social model” while real-life focuses on the “medical model.” The media does reinforce stereotypes for drama in storylines.
For example, Ariel getting her legs relieves her of her struggles in having a disability on land. The Little Mermaid seemed so relatable and progressive as a child.
The lead protagonist wanted to be human and overcame her struggles on land and in society.
The happy ending was always something to strive for. But, I never thought about how it reinforced that I am somehow broken and need to be fixed.
As I said before, I believed I never thought about not having a disability.
I didn’t realize just how much I really had thought about it through watching The Little Mermaid so often.
Source List
Kirkpatrick, Stephanie. “The Disney-Fication of Disability: The Perpetuation of Hollywood Stereotypes of Disability in Disney’s Animated Films.” Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. University of Akron, 2009. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. 23 Apr 2021.