Charity Model of Disability

A framework that views people with disabilities as helpless victims who are dependent on the goodwill and benevolence of others. Under this model, disability is treated as a tragedy requiring charitable intervention, positioning disabled people as passive recipients of aid rather than active agents in their own lives. The charity model often leads to paternalistic service delivery, particularly in assistive technology provision, where devices are donated without adequate consideration of individual needs, preferences, or the skills required to use them effectively. This model is widely critiqued within disability studies for undermining autonomy and reinforcing power imbalances.