The medical model of disability is based on a biomedical perspective. According to this model, disability is primarily linked to an individual’s physical body and intrinsic conditions. Here are the key points about the medical model:

1. Cause: The medical model attributes disability to a specific impairment or difference within the person. It focuses on diagnosing and identifying what is “wrong” with the individual.

2. Quality of Life: The model assumes that the disability may reduce the individual’s quality of life. Therefore, its goal is to diminish or correct the disability through medical interventions.

3. Treatment: Under the medical model, impairments or differences are often seen as problems to be fixed. Medical treatments, therapies, and interventions are recommended to address these issues, even when they do not cause pain or illness.

4. Individual-Centric: The medical model places the person at the centre, emphasizing their condition as the primary concern. However, it tends to overlook broader societal factors and barriers.

5. Limitations: While the medical model has its merits in providing medical care and interventions, it has limitations. It can lead to low expectations, reduced independence, and a lack of control over one’s own life.