What does the medical model of disability emphasize?

The medical model of disability primarily emphasizes the need to fix or cure the individual experiencing a disability. This model views disability as a problem that resides within the individual, focusing on their physical or mental impairments. It implies that the goal is to restore the person to a 'normal' state of health, often through medical interventions or therapies. By prioritizing the individual's limitations, the medical model tends to overlook the broader social and environmental contexts that contribute to the experience of disability, which are considered in more contemporary models like the social model of disability. Thus, the emphasis on curing or fixing aligns clearly with the aims and principles of the medical model.