Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law

What is the current relationship between the social and medical definitions of disability in Norway? The Norwegian Discrimination and Accessibility Act, which entered into effect on 1 January 2009, frames its overarching goals in terms of human rights and equal opportunity and studiously avoids the...

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Main Author: Jan Grue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stockholm University Press 2010-01-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.sjdr.se/articles/377
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author Jan Grue
author_facet Jan Grue
author_sort Jan Grue
collection DOAJ
description What is the current relationship between the social and medical definitions of disability in Norway? The Norwegian Discrimination and Accessibility Act, which entered into effect on 1 January 2009, frames its overarching goals in terms of human rights and equal opportunity and studiously avoids the use of medico-diagnostic language. Most of the specific provisions of the law are, however, justified as means of compensation for inherent or pre-existing disadvantage due to impairment. In order to be effective, they must engage with medical, impairment-specific knowledge. Social and medical perspectives and explanatory models that are often seen as conflicting or even mutually exclusive instead become intertwined in the spaces of negotiation that are opened by the law. Thus, elements of what has traditionally been termed the medical model become integrated in a larger framework that is defined by the goals of the social model.
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spelling doaj.art-0abf1c1ccc6a4522871e0a24e662f0e02023-08-02T01:57:13ZengStockholm University PressScandinavian Journal of Disability Research1501-74191745-30112010-01-0112316517810.1080/15017410903338853306Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination lawJan Grue0Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo University College, Oslo, NorwayWhat is the current relationship between the social and medical definitions of disability in Norway? The Norwegian Discrimination and Accessibility Act, which entered into effect on 1 January 2009, frames its overarching goals in terms of human rights and equal opportunity and studiously avoids the use of medico-diagnostic language. Most of the specific provisions of the law are, however, justified as means of compensation for inherent or pre-existing disadvantage due to impairment. In order to be effective, they must engage with medical, impairment-specific knowledge. Social and medical perspectives and explanatory models that are often seen as conflicting or even mutually exclusive instead become intertwined in the spaces of negotiation that are opened by the law. Thus, elements of what has traditionally been termed the medical model become integrated in a larger framework that is defined by the goals of the social model.https://www.sjdr.se/articles/377disabilitydiscourseanti-discriminationidentityjustificationsmedical modelsocial modeltopoi
spellingShingle Jan Grue
Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
disability
discourse
anti-discrimination
identity
justifications
medical model
social model
topoi
title Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
title_full Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
title_fullStr Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
title_full_unstemmed Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
title_short Is there something wrong with society, or is it just me? Social and medical knowledge in a Norwegian anti-discrimination law
title_sort is there something wrong with society or is it just me social and medical knowledge in a norwegian anti discrimination law
topic disability
discourse
anti-discrimination
identity
justifications
medical model
social model
topoi
url https://www.sjdr.se/articles/377
work_keys_str_mv AT jangrue istheresomethingwrongwithsocietyorisitjustmesocialandmedicalknowledgeinanorwegianantidiscriminationlaw