Functional Diversity: A New Perspective On Disability

Throughout history, different models have tried to explain disability, but in this article we will elaborate on the model of functional diversity. First, we give you a better understanding of the story behind the concept before we discuss what it means.

Let’s look at how the world has viewed people with disabilities. On this trip to the past, we come across a wide range of models ranging from the demonological model to the modern perspective of functional diversity.

Historical ideas about disability

Humans evolved and so did the concept of disability.  The nature of each time period affects the definition and expectations surrounding disability. Factors include cultural, medical, technological and social aspects.

In the Middle Ages, society experienced disability as a punishment from the gods. The principle of this was a demonological model in which it was believed that anyone with a disability was possessed. In this society, people with disabilities were isolated, at best. But killing people with disabilities was a common practice so that the “evil” did not spread.

The model of Hippocrates and Galen did not become large until the twentieth century . This model has physical and organic pathology as its center. It was understood that if a person had a disability, it was due to some kind of failure in their body.

This model shows people with disabilities as helpless beings in need of care and protection. They have no independence and independence, and institutionalization was the only option.

Modern models and functional diversity

In the post-war period, there was an increase in the degree of disability. Society faced the challenge of reintegrating injured people . Therefore, the socio-environmental model entered the scene.

Society saw people with disabilities as social individuals who would return to normal life, according to this model. The treatment during this period was centered around creating support, with a focus on technology. The goal was for disabled people to interact with their environment, under the best possible conditions.

Today, a rehabilitative model for disability prevails. We consider disabled people to be active, autonomous and independent. They are involved in their own rehabilitation process and the idea is full participation in the community.

This model is of great importance for the role played by rehabilitation staff. On the other hand, it does not give much importance to any environmental factors that may have caused this disability situation.

And then the integrative model was born, as an answer to the above problem. This model no longer focuses on how to change people with disabilities so that they can adapt to social norms . Instead, it sees disability as a functional diversity.

Any lack of adaptation would just be the logical consequence of the environment rejecting that they are different. This model seeks to break down the bias toward normality, while emphasizing differences, rather than shortcomings.

What is functional diversity?

The concept of functional diversity contradicts the idea that disabled people have a disorder that makes them incapacitated. Society is what categorizes them as disabled.

The father would no longer dwell alone in the label and its connotations. Instead, it would be based on society itself setting standards that people with disabilities cannot meet.

This is a constructivist idea that is easy to understand through the following statement. If everyone was blind, blindness would not be a problem because society would adapt to blindness.

Society is what excludes people with functional diversity from “normality” by not creating products, resources or tools for them. This exclusion is somewhat pragmatic. It is more practical to think only of the majority than to think of the minority. But by doing this, we create disabling conditions for people who would not otherwise suffer under them.

Universal design

This is the background to the idea behind universal design, a word invented by architect Ronald L. Mace. Universal design tries to explain that people should not create products with the “normal” majority in mind and then adapt it to others. In shaping our world, we must take into account the totality of all existing individuals.

Universal design consists of seven basic principles:

• Fair use : People with different skills or abilities should be able to use it.
• Flexibility : The design must accommodate a wide range of people with different tastes and abilities.
• Easy to use : It should be easy for everyone to understand and learn to use.
• Noticeable information: The design must effectively communicate the information needed to use it.
• Fault tolerance : The design must minimize possible accidents and unforeseen negative consequences.
• Minimum physical effort : It must be able to be used effectively in a comfortable way, with minimal fatigue.
• Appropriate size : It must have a size that suits its approach, use and scope.

The fact is that most of the world is not at all close to understanding what functional diversity really means. But moving towards the utopia of universal design can help. It can lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life for many people who are currently excluded from living an independent life.