Human Rights Model of Disability - Featuring Ellie the Equality Emu

Summary

In this fable, Ellie the Emu faces accessibility issues with a new bird feeder, highlighting different perspectives on disability. The 'medical model' suggests fixing Ellie's wings, which she rejects. The 'charitable model' offers temporary support, but Ellie seeks independence. The 'social model' identifies societal barriers, advocating for change. Finally, the 'human rights model' empowers Ellie to take action, leading to a solution where all birds enjoy treats together, symbolizing the dismantling of inequity.

Takeaways

• 🦩 Ellie is an Emu who loves her community but faces accessibility issues with the new seed box.
• 🔔 The arrival of the seed box is a moment of excitement but also a challenge for Ellie.
• 🚫 The seed box is inaccessible to Ellie, highlighting a barrier within the bird community.
• 👩‍⚕️ The medical model of disability is introduced, suggesting that Ellie's body is the problem and needs fixing.
• 🙅‍♀️ Ellie rejects the medical model, preferring to embrace her natural form and abilities.
• 🤗 The charitable model is presented, offering temporary solutions but not addressing the root cause of the problem.
• 🌐 The social model of disability is introduced, shifting the focus to societal barriers and the need for systemic change.
• 🦜 Kevin the Kiwi brings a perspective from New Zealand, emphasizing the universality of the issue.
• 🕊️ Ellie and Kevin's patience is tested as they wait for society to address the problem, but no immediate action is taken.
• 🥋 The human rights model of disability is introduced, advocating for the right to dismantle and improve inaccessible systems.
• 💪 Ellie takes action by using a 'karate kick' to bring down the inaccessible seed box, symbolizing the empowerment of individuals to effect change.
• 🎉 The story concludes with all birds enjoying the treats together, illustrating the benefits of an inclusive and accessible community.

Q & A

What kind of animal is Ellie in the story?

Ellie is an Emu.

What is Ellie's relationship with other birds in the story?

Ellie loves being with her feathered friends and participating as an equal member in the bird community.

What event causes excitement among the birds, including Ellie?

The arrival of a new seed box that promises sweet, sweet bird treats.

What problem does Ellie face when the seed box arrives?

The seed box is not accessible to Ellie because she can't reach the treats due to her inability to fly.

How do the birds in white coats propose to 'fix' Ellie?

They suggest making Ellie's wings work like the other birds so she can fly up to the seed box, which represents the medical model of disability.

What does Ellie think of the idea proposed by the birds in white coats?

Ellie doesn't like the idea because she likes her wings and body the way they are.

What alternative solution do the friendly birds propose to help Ellie?

They plan to raise money to buy special birdseed for Ellie to eat out of their wings, which represents the charitable model of disability.

Why is Ellie not satisfied with the charitable model of disability?

Ellie doesn't want to rely on other birds for her bird snacks; she wants to get them on her own terms and choose when she gets them.

Who is Kevin and what does he suggest about the problem?

Kevin is a kiwi from New Zealand who suggests that society is to blame for the inaccessibility of the bird treats for flightless birds, which represents the social model of disability.

What model of disability does Kevin introduce to Ellie?

Kevin introduces the human rights model of disability, which recognizes society's responsibility for barriers and empowers individuals with the tools to fix them.

How does Ellie use the human rights model of disability to solve her problem?

Ellie uses her right to dismantle the inaccessible system by giving the bird feeder a karate kick, causing the seed box to tumble to the ground and allowing all birds to eat the treats together.

Outlines

00:00

🐦 Ellie's Inclusion Dilemma

Ellie, an Emu, is part of a bird community that values equality. When a new seed box arrives, Ellie faces exclusion due to her inability to reach it, unlike other birds. She seeks help and is first met with the medical model of disability, where 'expert' birds propose to alter her wings to enable flight, an idea Ellie rejects as she appreciates her natural form. Instead, she encounters the charitable model, where well-wishers offer limited funding for special seeds, but this is a temporary solution that doesn't grant her autonomy. Eventually, she learns about the social model of disability from Kevin the Kiwi, who points out that the problem lies in societal structures, not individual limitations. They advocate for change, but when society doesn't act, they are introduced to the human rights model of disability, which empowers them to take action. Ellie uses this empowerment to literally kick down barriers, leading to a communal and equitable solution where all birds enjoy the treats.

Keywords

💡Emu

An emu is a large, flightless bird native to Australia, known for its distinctive appearance and behavior. In the video, Ellie the Emu represents individuals with disabilities, facing challenges in accessing resources due to societal structures. The character of Ellie is central to illustrating the different models of disability.

💡Feathered friends

This term refers to other birds in the community, symbolizing the social environment in which Ellie lives. It highlights the sense of belonging and community that Ellie shares with others, despite her differences, and underscores the importance of social integration in the narrative.

💡Seed box

The seed box represents a resource or opportunity that birds in the community are excited about. However, it also symbolizes the barriers that individuals with disabilities, like Ellie, face when trying to access common resources due to inaccessibility.

💡Accessibility

Accessibility refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people of all abilities. In the script, the inaccessibility of the seed box for Ellie highlights the theme of societal barriers that need to be addressed for equal participation.

💡Medical model of disability

This concept suggests that disability is a problem of the individual, requiring medical intervention to 'fix' the person. In the video, the birds in white coats propose to change Ellie's wings, illustrating the model's focus on altering the person rather than the environment.

💡Charitable model of disability

This model views disability as a condition that requires charity and support from others. The friendly birds' offer to raise money for Ellie's special birdseed exemplifies this approach, where the onus is on others to provide for the individual's needs.

💡Social model of disability

This model posits that disability is a result of societal barriers rather than an individual's limitations. Kevin the Kiwi introduces this concept, arguing that the seed box's design is the problem, not Ellie's inability to fly, thus shifting the focus to societal responsibility.

💡Human rights model of disability

This model combines the social model's understanding of societal barriers with the empowerment of individuals to address these barriers. Kevin explains that this model provides the tools for individuals like Ellie to dismantle and improve inaccessible systems, as shown when Ellie uses a 'karate kick' to bring down the seed box.

💡Inequality

Inequality refers to the unfairness or discrimination against certain groups or individuals. In the video, the inaccessible seed box represents an inequality that Ellie and other flightless birds face, which is addressed through the human rights model of disability.

💡Kiwi

A kiwi is a flightless bird native to New Zealand, used in the video to parallel Ellie's situation. Kevin the Kiwi serves as a voice for the social model of disability, emphasizing the need for societal change rather than individual adaptation.

💡Karate kick

The 'karate kick' is a metaphorical action Ellie takes to bring down the inaccessible seed box, symbolizing the empowerment and agency given by the human rights model of disability. It visually represents the dismantling of barriers and the assertion of rights.

Highlights

Ellie the Emu's story introduces the concept of accessibility and the challenges faced by flightless birds.

Ellie's desire to participate equally in the bird community despite her physical limitations.

The arrival of a new seed box creates excitement but also an accessibility issue for Ellie.

Ellie's inability to reach the treats due to the design of the seed box.

The introduction of the medical model of disability, where the problem is seen as Ellie's fault.

Ellie's rejection of the medical model, valuing her body and wings as they are.

The charitable model of disability is presented, offering temporary solutions but not addressing the root cause.

Ellie's reluctance to rely on others for her needs, seeking independence.

Kevin the Kiwi introduces the social model of disability, shifting the blame from Ellie to societal barriers.

The social model emphasizes society's responsibility to remove accessibility barriers for flightless birds.

Ellie's request for societal change to make the bird feeder accessible to all.

The human rights model of disability is introduced, combining societal responsibility with individual empowerment.

Ellie's use of her rights to dismantle the inaccessible bird feeder system.

The birds' collective action leads to a fair and accessible solution for all, symbolizing unity and equality.

The story concludes with a message of empowerment and the importance of accessible design for all.

The narrative serves as a metaphor for broader discussions on disability rights and societal inclusion.

The transcript highlights the evolution from individual blame to collective responsibility in addressing disability barriers.

Transcripts

This is Ellie.

Ellie is an Emu.

Ellie loves being with her feathered friends and participating as an equal member in the bird community.

One day Ellie and the rest of the birds are excited!

There is a new seed box arriving soon, so they can get access to sweet, sweet bird treats.

(Doorbell ring)

When the seed box arrives, there is a bit of a problem.

It is not accessible to Ellie the Emu.

She can't reach the treats.

Ellie asks for help.

(Emu squawk)

Some important looking birds in white coats arrive and explain that it is Ellie’s fault for not being able to get to the seed box.

"Don't worry Ellie, we are very smart birds and we can fix you.

We'll make your wings work like the other birds so you can fly up to the seed box," they explain.

This is known as the medical model of disability.

Ellie doesn’t like that idea, she likes her wings and her body they way it is.

She decides to get some other help.

Some friendly birds hear about Ellie’s problem and contact her with an idea.

“We are so inspired by your courage in trying to access the seed box as a flightless bird, that we are going to raise money for you.

With the money we will buy you some special birdseed that you can eat out of our wings.

The funding available will be limited but it will solve your problem for a while and we're sure you'll be grateful for our support.”

This is known as the charitable model of disability.

Ellie doesn’t really want to rely on other birds getting her tasty bird snacks.

She wants to get them on her own terms and choose when she gets it.

Later that day another bird comes along.

He’s a kiwi. His name is Kevin.

He says, “Ellie, we have exactly the same problem in New Zealand.

You are not the problem, society is to blame that you cannot get to those sweet, sweet bird treats.

Whoever designed the bird feeder has made the birdseed inaccessible for us flightless birds.

It is society’s responsibility to fix it, bro.”

This is called the social model of disability.

Ellie asks society to fix it.

(Emu squawk)

Ellie and Kevin wait patiently.

(Cricket sounds)

And they wait.

Nothing happens.

Kevin asks, “Have you heard of the Human rights model of disability?”

“No?!?” says Ellie.

“Well, it works together with the social model of disability

by recognising that society is responsible for the barriers PLUS it gives YOU the tools to fix it!

Like a great big karate chop to inequality and inaccessible bird feeders.”

Ellie stares at the Bird feeder for a moment. Then gives it a karate kick.

“Hey ya!” says Ellie

The seed box tumbles to the ground.

All the birds happily eat the sweet, sweet bird treats together.

The human rights model of disability says that Ellie can use her rights to dismantle inaccessible systems and build newer and fairer ones for all.