Charity

Tragedy Model

• mind/body works differently

• person is a victim of the loss

• loss prevents working normally

• must fix!

Elizabethan Poor Laws

describe a set of rules that dictated those deserving and undeserving of state support in Britain

Impotent poor

unable to work, deserving of charity

Able-bodied poor

able to work but unemployed, supported until they find employment

Idle poor

capable but refusing to work, undeserving of support, often criminalised

Critiques of the Charity Model

• Frames disability as something negative (struggle)

  • Also often the only way people learn about disability

• Frames non disabled people as the saviours for disabled people

Good cripple

expectation that disabled people will behave in a certain way to be considered worthy of charity

Bad cripple

 disabled people who aren’t trying to get better and are framed as blaming their disability on nondisabled people

Benefits of Charity Model (?)

• Validates the needs of disabled people

• Grants access to life changing medical needs

• Taxation vs charity (what are your motives)

1597 and 1601: poor relief act

• Unemployment and poverty grew and religion couldn’t keep up

• Development of welfare system though taxes

Poster Children and Telethons

1747: disabled people were being used to elicit donations

children shows damage or struggle of the impairment

Putting a face to the disorder makes people more willing to donate (make it personal)