The Cultural Model of Disability as a Challenge for Special Education Cover Image

Kulturowy model niepełnosprawności wyzwaniem dla pedagogiki specjalnej
The Cultural Model of Disability as a Challenge for Special Education

Author(s): Andrzej Twardowski
Subject(s): Health and medicine and law, Welfare services
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: disability; culture; society; education; transdisciplinary approach;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present the cultural model of disability and its consequences for specialeducation. I will start by presenting the origins and essence of the cultural model of disability. Next,I will characterize the four main assumptions underlying this model: 1) disability can be understooddifferently in different cultures, 2) people perceive disability through the prism of the experiences theyhave acquired in their culture, 3) the understanding of disability depends on the type of discourse thatconstitutes its meaning, 4) the commonly unquestionable “efficiency” usually referred to as “normal-ity” should be questioned. In the second part of the article, I will discuss the most important implications of the cultural model of disability for the theory and practice of special education.

  • Issue Year: 2023
  • Issue No: 68
  • Page Range: 19-31
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish