University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

12 months long | Credits: 10

This module will take you through various theories which have underpinned the disability rights movement we see today. We begin with ‘equality’, looking at the difference between equality of opportunity, equality of outcome and the relationship between discrimination and ‘reasonable accommodations’. Class 3 takes you to one of the core concepts in disability theory and advocacy: the Social Model of Disability. The social model has been described as one of the most important political tools in the disabled people’s movement, and its influence on legal reasoning is growing. The field of ‘critical disability studies’ has, however, highlighted some limitations of the Social Model, and we look at some of the debates about this. We also look at ‘normalization’ – a (mostly Scandinavian) approach which developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s out of dissatisfaction with the exclusion and institutionalization of people with disabilities from mainstream societies. Whilst acknowledging the important work done by normalization, we also look at some critiques of it. The Capabilities approach emerged out of theories of international development, but it has been put to increasing use in relation to disability by writers like Martha Nussbaum, and has been picked up by some human rights institutions. We move on to consider what post-structuralist and post-modern scholars have had to say about the language we use around disability and its effects, and introduce the class to the idea that disability is ‘socially constructed’.
(Language of instruction: English)

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module LW552: "Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.