Vision Care Australia’s Approach

Vision Care Australia’s provision of services is based on the “Social Model “in seeking to change societal attitudes to accommodate people living with impairment not person impairment to accommodate society. We recognize the rights of persons living with a disability to be participating citizens on an equal basis with others. We support the definition of people with disability according to the People with Disability Association Australia as … not “objects” of charity, medical treatment and social protection but “subjects” with rights, capable of claiming those rights, able to make decisions for their own lives based on their free and informed consent and be active members of society”.

The Medical Models views impairment is as a medical condition that leads to disability on the contrary we view disability as a result of the interaction between people living with impairments and barriers in the physical, attitudinal and social environment.
The Social Model does not deny the impairment nor its impact on the person but seeks to challenge the barriers to accommodate it as an expected incident of human diversity. Our aim is to advance and protect the rights, health and well being of our participants in our ever so critical role as not only support workers but advocates.

We adopt the Holistic Person Centered Care approach which views the person not according to their condition/symptoms/diagnosis but preferences, physical, emotional wellbeing, spiritual and social cultural background. We respect and take into account life experiences, age, gender, heritage, language, beliefs, identity and family in our provision of services and supports flexible to suit the person’s wishes and priorities.
Our approach is strength based focusing on what the individual “can do” as a priority and any help/assistance they need is secondary therefore focus is on individual “ability“. We support the person’s ability to build and keep control over their life. We view participants as equal partners and build bridges in communication through maintaining meaningful therapeutic relationships by planning, developing and monitoring the services to make sure the individual’s needs are met and for best outcomes at all times.

Social model of disability