Unit 12: Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
Date: 06/03/2023
Contents:
Page 2 - 4: B.P2: Explain how disability can be viewed as a social construct.
Page 5 - 8: B.P3: Describe how health or social care workers can help one child and one adult with
different additional needs overcome challenges to daily living.
Page 9 - 12: B.M2: Assess the impact of challenges to daily living that may be experienced by one
child and one adult with different additional needs, and how effectively these challenges are
overcome.
Page 13 - 16: C.P4: Explain the benefits of adaptations and support provided to one child and one
adult with different additional needs.
Page 17 - 19: C.P5: Explain the impact of statutory provision on the support provided for one child
and one adult with different additional needs.
Page 20 - 23: C.M3: Analyse how the provision and support provided for one child and one adult
with different additional needs have benefited them.
Page 24 - 27: C.M4: Analyse how statutory provision has impacted on current practice in caring
for one child and one adult with different additional needs.
Page 28 - 29: BC.D2: Justify the support and adaptations provided for two individuals with
different additional needs to help them overcome challenges to daily living, with reference to
statutory provision.
Page 30 - 34: BC.D3: Evaluate the impact of providing support for two individuals diagnosed with
different additional needs in improving their wellbeing and life chances.
Introduction:
In any society, there are both adults and children who need extra help to get through the everyday
struggles that are a part of their life. Some of these difficulties result not from a disability but
rather from how society views children and adults with special needs. I will be using the case
studies of Rebecca Brown and Ben Grace to reference their struggles when facing disability.
,B.P2 - Explain how disability can viewed as a social construct
In this section of my report, I will be showing my knowledge and understanding
regarding the social constructs describing disabilities. The term ‘social construct’ is
defined as a concept that originates from human interactions, existing for the reason
that people agree on its existence. (Bainbridge and Poor, 2022) This means that
disability, which exists due to our conceptions, is a social construct. One example is a
disability, or a physical/mental impairment that is long-lasting with negative effects
on the person’s abilities. To further the depth of my report, I will be explaining
society’s, as well as the people’s, attitudes towards disability and looking at societal
attitudes towards specific disabilities.
The social model is one that identifies the systematic barriers, derogatory attitudes and
social exclusion faced by those with a disability
that adds difficulty to their lives. (Wikipedia,
2023) For some, this means that society is the
barrier that causes disability as those diagnosed
suffer the discrimination and stigma of having
such a disability. This means that disability
exists due to the way society works, from the
way it separates those with certain qualities to
the way it takes the side of the louder voices. For
those with disabilities, the social model ensures that society becomes more inclusive
of them; for example, the social model would determine that a wheelchair-user can be
more independent with the help of a ramp.
2
, On the other hand, there is the medical model of
disability: a model that says people are disabled
by their impairments, arguing against the social
model which says that disability is caused by
barriers set by society. When looking at this
view on disability, one would argue that
impairments should be ‘repaired’ through the
use of medicine, even if that impairment or
difference causes no changes to the person’s life
in practical terms. The medical model can cause
the loss of independence as people would look at the impairment and rather than
adapting, they change it to meet the standards of society. Such a view would look at a
wheelchair-user as unable to climb stairs to get into a building. (Disability
Nottinghamshire, 2023)
Another way in which disability can be seen as a social construct is through law. As I
brushed on earlier, those who have a disability are separated by those with no
disabilities, showing a certain stigma as the majority is those with no disabilities.
Laws look into this situation and prevent discrimination against those different from
the norm and as such, the social construct becomes deeper. The law looks at those
with disabilities as a physical or mental impairment which has substantial and long-
term effects on one’s ability to carry out everyday activities. (Citizens Advice, 2020)
Through a legal perspective, disability is determined by the person’s impairment;
although, compared to the medical model, a lawful view would compromise for those
with disabilities as they would hold a more vulnerable position compared to those
without a disability. If a wheelchair wanted to get into a hospital with stairs at the
entrance, the lawful perspective would look at this as discrimination.
Overall, disability viewed as a social construct can cause barriers for those diagnosed
or not diagnosed. These people become more or less dependent on others based on
which model one looks at. For example, the social model promotes independence as it
looks at adaptations and changes to society to match a disabled person’s needs, while
the medical model looks to ‘fix’ what is not broken, diminishing independence as it
would rather see the impairment over the barrier. On the other hand, law looks at
punishing those who pursue the stigma and act wrongly on the basis of impaired
people being the minority.
3
, Bibliography: P2
Bainbridge, Carol. And Poor, Armeen. (2022) What is Social Construct?
URL: https://www.verywellmind.com/definition-of-social-construct-1448922
[Accessed 6th Mar 2023]
Citizens Advice (2020) What Counts as Disability
URL: What counts as disability - Citizens Advice [Accessed 14th Mar 2023]
Disability Nottinghamshire (2023) Social Model Vs Medical Model of disability
URL: Social Model vs Medical Model of disability - disabilitynottinghamshire.org.uk
[Accessed 14th Mar 2023]
Wikipedia (2023) Social Model of Disability
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_model_of_disability [Accessed 14th Mar
2023]
https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/guilford-college/health-and-wellness-
promotion/btec-level-3-health-and-social-care-unit-12-supporting-individuals-with-
additional-needs/26716578 [sample]
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?
t=6002464&p=83969946#post83969946 [structure]
4
Date: 06/03/2023
Contents:
Page 2 - 4: B.P2: Explain how disability can be viewed as a social construct.
Page 5 - 8: B.P3: Describe how health or social care workers can help one child and one adult with
different additional needs overcome challenges to daily living.
Page 9 - 12: B.M2: Assess the impact of challenges to daily living that may be experienced by one
child and one adult with different additional needs, and how effectively these challenges are
overcome.
Page 13 - 16: C.P4: Explain the benefits of adaptations and support provided to one child and one
adult with different additional needs.
Page 17 - 19: C.P5: Explain the impact of statutory provision on the support provided for one child
and one adult with different additional needs.
Page 20 - 23: C.M3: Analyse how the provision and support provided for one child and one adult
with different additional needs have benefited them.
Page 24 - 27: C.M4: Analyse how statutory provision has impacted on current practice in caring
for one child and one adult with different additional needs.
Page 28 - 29: BC.D2: Justify the support and adaptations provided for two individuals with
different additional needs to help them overcome challenges to daily living, with reference to
statutory provision.
Page 30 - 34: BC.D3: Evaluate the impact of providing support for two individuals diagnosed with
different additional needs in improving their wellbeing and life chances.
Introduction:
In any society, there are both adults and children who need extra help to get through the everyday
struggles that are a part of their life. Some of these difficulties result not from a disability but
rather from how society views children and adults with special needs. I will be using the case
studies of Rebecca Brown and Ben Grace to reference their struggles when facing disability.
,B.P2 - Explain how disability can viewed as a social construct
In this section of my report, I will be showing my knowledge and understanding
regarding the social constructs describing disabilities. The term ‘social construct’ is
defined as a concept that originates from human interactions, existing for the reason
that people agree on its existence. (Bainbridge and Poor, 2022) This means that
disability, which exists due to our conceptions, is a social construct. One example is a
disability, or a physical/mental impairment that is long-lasting with negative effects
on the person’s abilities. To further the depth of my report, I will be explaining
society’s, as well as the people’s, attitudes towards disability and looking at societal
attitudes towards specific disabilities.
The social model is one that identifies the systematic barriers, derogatory attitudes and
social exclusion faced by those with a disability
that adds difficulty to their lives. (Wikipedia,
2023) For some, this means that society is the
barrier that causes disability as those diagnosed
suffer the discrimination and stigma of having
such a disability. This means that disability
exists due to the way society works, from the
way it separates those with certain qualities to
the way it takes the side of the louder voices. For
those with disabilities, the social model ensures that society becomes more inclusive
of them; for example, the social model would determine that a wheelchair-user can be
more independent with the help of a ramp.
2
, On the other hand, there is the medical model of
disability: a model that says people are disabled
by their impairments, arguing against the social
model which says that disability is caused by
barriers set by society. When looking at this
view on disability, one would argue that
impairments should be ‘repaired’ through the
use of medicine, even if that impairment or
difference causes no changes to the person’s life
in practical terms. The medical model can cause
the loss of independence as people would look at the impairment and rather than
adapting, they change it to meet the standards of society. Such a view would look at a
wheelchair-user as unable to climb stairs to get into a building. (Disability
Nottinghamshire, 2023)
Another way in which disability can be seen as a social construct is through law. As I
brushed on earlier, those who have a disability are separated by those with no
disabilities, showing a certain stigma as the majority is those with no disabilities.
Laws look into this situation and prevent discrimination against those different from
the norm and as such, the social construct becomes deeper. The law looks at those
with disabilities as a physical or mental impairment which has substantial and long-
term effects on one’s ability to carry out everyday activities. (Citizens Advice, 2020)
Through a legal perspective, disability is determined by the person’s impairment;
although, compared to the medical model, a lawful view would compromise for those
with disabilities as they would hold a more vulnerable position compared to those
without a disability. If a wheelchair wanted to get into a hospital with stairs at the
entrance, the lawful perspective would look at this as discrimination.
Overall, disability viewed as a social construct can cause barriers for those diagnosed
or not diagnosed. These people become more or less dependent on others based on
which model one looks at. For example, the social model promotes independence as it
looks at adaptations and changes to society to match a disabled person’s needs, while
the medical model looks to ‘fix’ what is not broken, diminishing independence as it
would rather see the impairment over the barrier. On the other hand, law looks at
punishing those who pursue the stigma and act wrongly on the basis of impaired
people being the minority.
3
, Bibliography: P2
Bainbridge, Carol. And Poor, Armeen. (2022) What is Social Construct?
URL: https://www.verywellmind.com/definition-of-social-construct-1448922
[Accessed 6th Mar 2023]
Citizens Advice (2020) What Counts as Disability
URL: What counts as disability - Citizens Advice [Accessed 14th Mar 2023]
Disability Nottinghamshire (2023) Social Model Vs Medical Model of disability
URL: Social Model vs Medical Model of disability - disabilitynottinghamshire.org.uk
[Accessed 14th Mar 2023]
Wikipedia (2023) Social Model of Disability
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_model_of_disability [Accessed 14th Mar
2023]
https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/guilford-college/health-and-wellness-
promotion/btec-level-3-health-and-social-care-unit-12-supporting-individuals-with-
additional-needs/26716578 [sample]
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?
t=6002464&p=83969946#post83969946 [structure]
4
