Disabled by Differences or Environment? A Look at Social Vs. Medical Disability Models

This video explores the differences between the Medical and Social Models of Disability. This is an invitation to discuss: What accommodations could be made to help you feel more connected to the world around you? Please approach the comments with curiosity and kindness.

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DISCLAIMER: Taylor Heaton is not a licensed psychologist or specialist healthcare professional. Her services do not replace the care of psychologists or other healthcare professionals. Please note that Taylor can’t take any responsibility for the results of your actions, nor any harm or damage you suffer as a result of the use, or non-use of the information available through her website, YouTube Channel, or social media accounts. Please use judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action or implementing any plan or practice suggested or recommended by Taylor Heaton or Mom on the Spectrum. Please note that Taylor doesn't make any guarantees about the results of the information you may apply from her website, YouTube channel, and/or social media accounts. Taylor shares educational and informational resources that are intended to help you succeed in navigating life as an autistic adult. You nevertheless need to know that your outcome will be the result of your own efforts, your particular situation, and innumerable other circumstances beyond Taylor's knowledge and control. Taylor is an Amazon affiliate and may receive commissions on qualifying purchases from affiliate links. Taylor is a Flare affiliate and may receive commissions on qualifying purchases from Flare links.

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#actuallyautistic #momonthespectrum #autisticadult

[sueannevangalen]

I have heard of the social model of disability before, after I saw "Finding Dory." That part where Bailey the beluga with the damaged sonar and Destiny the visually impaired whale shark are about to break out of the rehabilitation facility, and Destiny is terrified of bumping into everything in an unfamiliar environment, Bailey tells her, "Destiny, there are no walls in the ocean"... That illustrates the social model very well. 😊

[withheldformyprotection]

A revelation that occurred during the pandemic was that I didn’t actually dislike my job, I just disliked the environment that I was expected to perform my job within. Working from home, where I could control all aspects of my environment, allowed me to focus on the work, which I love, and not be anxious and exhausted at the end of each day. Now that I am back in the office environment several days a week, the mental and physical/health issues that I experienced for most of my career have returned. With the new ability to distinguish between the work (love) and the job environment (dislike), I can use this to center my focus on the work, and not let the environment dictate my feelings about the experience.
This example is intended to say that for my particular situation on the spectrum, the social model fits better than the medical model.

[mmegraham]

I grew up as an autistic girl in a family with one autistic parent. I never felt abnormal, because normal was autistic. And I was able to have friends and unknowingly mask and figure out how to fit in without a lot of trouble. I now have two autistic children who live with me. It's only lately that I've realized how very differently my husband's brain is from the other brains in our household!

[sueannevangalen]

One accommodation I fantasize about getting would be having a quiet, softly lit, solitary place to retreat to at any social gathering, for when the situation becomes overwhelming. Or just anyplace that would be considered a No Talking Required zone. I think it's a fantasy because not everyone has extra rooms in their homes. But certainly the bigger establishments could manage something like that, I think 😊

[TheWilliamHoganExperience]

This is an extremely important topic for autistic people, because autism is litterally socially disabling. Yes, it brings other physiological differences like extreme sensory sensitivities / insensitivities, but the primary challenges I've faced as an autistic person are social.

Autistic people are said to like being alone. Perhaphs because of how we are treated if our interests don't align with cultural values related to STEM type subjects deemed useful to nuerotypical society. News flash: Not all of us like computers and counting match-sticks.

The fact is, we don't get to pick our gifts.

Our gifts pick us. Sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a lifetime. We have zero control over this, and if we are not allowed and able to pursue them fully, it kills us to the extent we cannot. So I've come top think of my autism in two different but complimentary ways:

With unaware and unaccomdating typical nuerotypical society, my autism is a severe form of disabilty. It renderes me completely unable to function. This, from both a Medical Disability perspective (nuerotypical pathologizing / normalizing perspective) and from a Social Disability standpoint (enviroment and social context created by and for nuerotypical people). The two are just different aspects of the same problem: Insensitivity, ignorance and arrogance towards people who don't fit well into the NT Matrix. Throw in the deception, greed, gluttony, lust and competition which seems to motivate nuerotypical people when they form social groups to fully understand how disabling autism can be in such environments. Unless you are Bill Gates or Elon Musk etc, and your special interest is world domination. And you came from money. And are a driven, ruthless STEM genius / psychopath / robot who loves money. Lots and lots of money...

The problem is love. Autisic people are fundamentaly driven by love, and we are unable to compromise on this. I our interests are gifts which choose us as their messengers. These gifts are fragile and precious. They hold great value for humanity. Autistic people are responsible for some of the greatest artistic, musical, philosophical scientific, mathmatical, and litterary works in history. With other autistic people and those few but precious nuerotypical people who understand, accept and support me, autism is a gift.

Creativity and insight require standing outside of the conventional world. So we really are aliens. Neccesary aliens full of love for life and the gifts we bring to the world.

All I've ever tried to do is to share the fragile gifts I was sent to earth with. They don't belong to me - I'm just a vessel. A fully human vessel. Imagine how crushing it's been to have the gifts rejected because I'm an alien who can't hear, understand, or communicate in the primary but unspoken language of social convention....

It's tragic for all of humanity when this happens to any human being. Autistic people are simply more at risk because our differences are greater than average. We are canaries in the social coal mines of a cruel world. We are here to make things better for everyone. For this we are ignored, while being punished for our differences.

It's a hell of thing, love

PS, I've been a licensed architect for almost 25 years. Your building design analogy is exactly how we design buildings in America now. But it took enactment of the American with Disabilities Act in the early 90s. The ADA is Civil Rights Legislation. It protects all people with disabilities. By law, public facilities must accomodate us. Same for employment, public or private. To not do so when asked is a violation of civil rights, exactly the same as not letting someone eat at a resturaunt because of the color of their skin. It's under the same legal umbrella.

So if autistic people really want to make the world more accomodating, we have a very powerful legal tool to do so. The one thing that's missing from all the Autism Awareness and Education channels that I've seen are discussions about the importance of knowing and asserting our rights when it comes to discrimination against us.

...and I think it's important to call it discrimination - because that's exactly what it is. At some point, we have to stand up and refuse to ride in the back of the bus. Class action lawsuits have a way of getting the attention of scoundrels, and bringing them to heel. I'll bet a lot of really good lawyers are autistic and could form a really powerful legal advocay group on our behalf.

...and how much you wanna bet Elon Musk would cheer and fund such a thing?

He knows where his bread is buttered ;-)

[deviatedspectrum]

Great start to an important conversation. One thing that strikes me about the social model is that accommodations for disabled people often help everyone. For example, if you've got a baby in a stroller, a ramp is a wonderful thing. Great co tent as always. Thank you for all you do!

[corafishy]

I think that one really huge thing that would help autistic people in school settings (k-12 to university) is if teachers and professors were educated about the communication differences that may arise in different students. Masking and fawning can sometimes be interpreted as flirting, and this can lead to students being put in situations where the professors think it is OK to indulge in a romantic relationship. Because they think the student "came on to them". As autistic people, sometimes we don't realize we're in a particular type of interaction until it is so deep along that it is dangerous or incredibly difficult to extract ourselves from. Further, we do not always understand what is inappropriate ... Teaching educators to practice seeking enthusiastic consent (because we know teacher-student relationships aren't going anywhere) and to directly communicate in a way that doesn't assume interest would have made my life a lot less chaotic.

[amandamandamands]

The biggest problem with the medical model is that it is structured to treat and cure. The social model is that you need help and accommodations to live your best life (and some of those may be medical treatments). It took me a while to accept that I was disabled because of what society presents to you as to what disability looks like. I don't think that the social model stops people being called disabled as there are always going to be things/systems that are disabling no matter how well people try to plan things out as quite often there are conflicting supports that people need eg at some curbs there are bumps for blind people (where I live they have them at bus stops so they know exactly where the stop is), that makes it harder for people in a wheelchair to get by.

[beautyandbeyond]

All of this puts into words our experience with public school and our daughter. She's 11 and HF autistic. Social struggles and anger issues that result in threats. Public school doesn't take behavior like hers lightly. In our manifestation ard, the principal told us, no joke, they've exhausted themselves in trying to help her and they don't have the man power. We moved her to a charter school for ND kids and she's doing much better!!

[joyh]

I don't know if this can become an accommodation in the workplace, but I function way better in a 4 10s work schedule as compared to 5 8s. I find it better to get all the work done as soon as possible and have 3 whole days to recover and enjoy. 2 days off just isn't enough time to recharge from the week, which usually puts me in a cycle of burnout.

[RootwitchQueen]

This is something that I've always had to consider because I am physically disabled and used to be in a wheelchair like...almost full time. I've since been able to move from using that wheelchair to using a walker on really bad days and a cane on less awful days lol Making my environment more accessible is something that I wish that I could do in regards to my physical disabilities because there are just some places that are really difficult to navigate with a walker or a wheelchair. It keeps me in the house more than I would like because managing the world as a disabled person who uses assisted devices is just...hard lol

As far as being autistic and ADHD and looking at that from a medical/social lense, I DO think that both of those things FOR ME...are disabilities...because while being auDHD is awesome...it doesn't come without severe struggle and absolute mayhem some days. I don't think I could classify myself as being able-bodied even if I weren't physically disabled because there are just some things that I cannot do because of my autism/ADHD that make me feel as if I am not able to fully function like I want to.

There's just SO much to this topic that I want to touch on but I don't have the bandwidth right now to organise my thoughts in a cohesive manner and that makes me so frustrated because this was SUCH an amazing video and I want to talk about it lol Thank you so much for broaching this subject and I look forward to future videos on the topic because it is one that I think we need to talk about more as a society AND as a community.

Much love from Virginia ❤

[rufiohaspan]

I actually forget I’m autistic until I have to drive somewhere like on a highway or in a city . But when I’m just hanging out at my parents house I’m perfectly fine and just spend my time doing my hobbies and what not . Though I also feel disabled when I look at my brother that’s 37 ( I’m 34) and he’s a lawyer and married with a house and I just work part time and live with my parents atm . ( though I’m gay so it’s harder to meet people and my brothers not so it’s not all autistim related on that end )

[michele]

I have ADHD, Ehlers-Danlos, POTS and Dysautonomia (dysregulated ANS) so I struggle with sensory issues and executive function challenges (in addition to dysregulated bodily systems).
I came across your channel last week and have watched nearly all your videos. Your experience coupled with your knowledge has been extremely informative, helpful and validating for me.
I value your channel and this community very much. I thought I'd pass along two YT resources that helped me with conversation skills and being mindful...
1. Wizard of Words, Dan O'Connnor, is a communication expert whose videos address conversation and social skills. "Small talk for introverts and those on the spectrum." is a great place to start.
2. SagaJohanna is an autistic Scandinavian creator and minimalist. Her videos have an ASMR vibe that I found to be helpful with relaxation and mindfulness. Enjoy!

[pascie]

Thank you so so much for making these videos! It's been a huge revelation and comfort to just know this is what's been going on with me. It all just fits!

[mortyblink]

Great to bring this up. I' d add that living in the society with zero autism-awareness is physically crippling. God bless you. Amen

[michaelhaardt]

I love the way you structure this topic! I believe both models are in fact true and do not even contradict with each other. The key to any progress is to learn people can be way more different than you could possibly imagine. It's something the majority outright says they know and accept, when in fact they have no clue of the actual extent of difference unless they bump into it on a very personal level, and even then many refuse and reject it. That behavior can be explained by constructivism and it is a tough and real problem I have no solution for. It requires to question the way you build mental models of the world and once you crawl into that rabbit hole, you'll find there are a few more that look fine but actually are wrong. People are by no means keen to do that.

[leosthrivwithautism]

Controversial is the right word. Because when I've attempted to talk about the same topic it turned into a tense conversation. And I wasn't even taking a side just like this video I was trying to be non bias. And offer my views on both sides and what I believe are the pros and cons of both sides and yet some people felt like it was almost a personal attack they got so tensed up. But this video explains it in a language much better than I can explain it. Very informative!

[nwingatechi]

I’m trying to reconsider environment at work to make it more comfortable for my senses. New chair. Moved excess file cabinets out of my cubicle so I don’t feel trapped. Reduced items on my walls and desk. Small things but they make a huge difference.

[leehunter]

I appreciate your video. Thank you for your perspective. I’m raising a son on the Autism spectrum and I am going to watch this again tonight with him.

[SpidersDoinStuff]

Hello!
I loved this video so so much! I have been exploring these videos because I do seem to relate with many autistic traits and have been exploring that, but seeing this particular one I wanted to share a little on my perspective as a therapist. I work with SMI (mostly psychosis and bipolar with delusions…that kind of thing) and I found this to be incredibly relevant what I do. It has been so incredibly frustrating working with doctors and government assessors when I have someone who is experiencing mental health crises daily and getting no help, but the moment they, for example, break their leg they can get all the help and resources in the world. I really appreciate how you broke down both models and put this in perspective. Let’s stop trying to “fix” people and start giving places the resources needed to make society more accommodating to people with different thoughts, behaviors, and neurologically 😸❤️