Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

84perspectives is sought “in order to provide a coherent view of differentperspectives of health from a biological, individual and social perspective.” 216However, despite this comprehensive approach there remains very limitedacknowledgement of the unique life situation of people living with intellectualdisabilities.2.6 A Proposed Integrated ModelI agree with Altman when she states that a multi-dimensional, globaldefinition and model of disability is all but impossible to articulate with precisionowing to issues such as cultural, socio-political and gender-based nuances, andthe accompanying complexities involved in adequately defining key terms suchas disability, impairment, society, environment and normality. 217 The multidimensional,global model and definition may thus, at best, always be ‘a work inprogress’. Indeed, it can be argued that the focus should be on developing modelsthat, amidst broad universal principles, are adaptable to local circumstances.Nonetheless, in relation to this extended reflection, a modest conceptually-framedmodel of disability ought to be sought that provides a framework forunderstanding the nature of disability as it impacts on the lives of those withintellectual impairment living in an institutional environment. As such, referenceis made to the preceding discussion concerning disability models and definitionsin order to construct such a framework that, at the same time, is consistent withthe extended reflection values articulated earlier in this chapter.Underlining this model is the assertion that people with intellectualdisabilities are a particularly marginalised socio-political group of human beings.They are marginalised because disability per se defines them as being of a lessthan full human identity. However, this is exacerbated because their loss ofintellectual function limits their capacity to articulate their needs. In thesegregated institutional context this lost identity becomes entrenched, and trulyworthy social function is trivialised in the face of medical intervention. It is herethat the institutional pastoral carer must stand alongside the person with anintellectual disability and help articulate their human needs.216 ibid., 25.217 Altman, “Disability, Definitions, Models, Classification Schemes, and Applications”, 97.