After 30+ years of debating the best model for disability, there is a need for a new framework. As the medical model of disability seeks a cure and the social model points to the environment, neither model is without its flaws. Human resource development (HRD) professionals and practitioners are in a position to craft a model that reflects the experiences of people with disabilities. This new model will strengthen HRD’s importance in the field and its impact on other disciplines.
The Solution
This article offers consideration to be given for a new model for disability that addresses the complexities of cultural boundaries, gives value to the experiences of people with disabilities, and changes language in how disabilities are described. Using the results of the literature review, a path to the Transculturalized Diversity and Inclusion Model lays the groundwork for further research. This article accesses the perceptions of people with disabilities regarding both models, incorporates the strategies used by HRD scholars and researchers for improving value in a growing population of disabled people, and synthesizes a platform for future discussion and development of the Transculturalized Diversity and Inclusion Model.
The Stakeholders
HRD practitioners, especially those serving populations with disabilities, will benefit greatly from a new model and perspective provided by the Transculturalized Diversity and Inclusion Model. HRD scholars likewise will be provided with a new framework for conducting research on people with disabilities in the workplace.
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