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Ableism is an often-overlooked form of discrimination that impacts the lives of people worldwide who live with significant disabilities. It highlights the systemic and societal factors that currently fail to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. From historical nightmares like forced sterilization to subtle everyday microaggressions, ableism takes many forms. Whether it’s the use of outdated language, condescension, or barriers in healthcare and employment, ableism reinforces harmful stereotypes and exclusion. By working hard to understand its roots, we can begin to create a more equitable and accessible world for everyone.
Curious about what ableism is and how to avoid it? Click through now.
Ableism is a form of systemic oppression where people who are disabled, or perceived as disabled, are treated negatively. It can also affect caregivers indirectly. People don't always know they're being ableist so it's important to educate yourself.
Approximately 1.3 billion people globally, or 16% of the total world population, have a significant disability.
Many say that having a mobility impairment isn’t the problem. The problem is society not prioritizing accessibility for people with disabilities.
Ableism can present itself in many locations including at an institutional level, interpersonally, and internally. It can also take on different forms, from being hostile to benevolent or even ambivalent.
During the Holocaust, there were horrific mass murders of people with disabilities. Additionally, the eugenics movement forcibly sterilized thousands who had intellectual disabilities.
Though it may not be your intention, if you are speaking loudly and/or slowly to someone who hasn't told you they have cognitive or hearing issues, that behavior could be condescending and ableist.
It's absolutely essential that you don't use terms like “blind,” “dumb,” “schizophrenic,” “lame,” or “spastic” as insults. If you do, it suggests that having a disability is a bad thing or even something to be ashamed of.
People with disabilities should never be called “handicapped,” “touched” or “challenged.” Some members of the disability pride movement have reclaimed slurs like “cripple.” But if you don’t have a disability, don't try using them.
You don't have a right to know if a person has a disability or which disability they live with. Do not ask invasive questions.
When you equate pain and suffering with a person's disability then you are a conflation ableist. Additionally, saying things like "I'd rather be dead than disabled," assumes people with disabilities can't live happy and fulfilling lives.
If you speak to an adult with a disability as if they are a child it can be incredibly dehumanizing. Also, don't speak to their caregiver instead of them or refer to the person as "differently abled" or "handicapable."
Exploitation entertainment refers to the media's treatment of people with disabilities as curiosities. This type of "entertainment" might also refer to people as inspiring or brave for doing ordinary things.
It's extremely ableist to blame someone for their medical condition. Equally so is stereotyping someone based on their disability.
Ableism doesn't just occur in everyday life, it also occurs in politics, economy, and culture.
Subminimum wage laws allow select employers to pay their employees with specific disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. Additionally, there is marriage inequality where many people living with disabilities can’t marry their partner or if they do, they risk losing federal benefits.
Institutional ableism also occurs when the necessary accommodations aren't considered and provided for people with disabilities.
If you have ever parked in a parking spot designated for those with disabilities, "just for a minute," or blocked a spot with a shopping cart, then you too have unintentionally (or intentionally) been an ableist.
Other examples of ableist actions include turning a patron away from a restaurant if they have a guide dog for vision support, or not providing an interpreter or captioning service at an event with deaf attendees.
In 2024, one in four US adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 44 couldn't get help because they couldn't afford it.
Ableism can also occur at medical facilities. If the building itself is not accessible or if the providers don't have equipment such as adjustable exam tables or wheelchair-accessible scales, this can cause problems.
Over time, if you aren't aware and educating yourself, your ableism can become truly internalized. You will start to believe that someone with a disability is truly, inherently less.
According to the US Department of Labor, unemployment rates are higher for those who have a disability than those without, regardless of their level of education. With unemployment comes an increased chance of poverty or worse.
To help combat ignorance, it's important that you, your family, and your loved ones do everything possible to learn what living with a disability is like.
Before assuming a person with a disability wants to teach you something, ask them. Ask if they're willing to discuss a certain topic that you're not as knowledgeable about. Then, if they are willing, you can discuss and learn more from them.
When planning an event, big or small, think of the various types of disabilities. If you're in doubt about whether the event is accessible, do something about it.
Whether you're a manager, friend, or family member to someone with a disability, make sure you always provide a safe space for others to share with you. Also, being a confidant and never repeating what they tell you will make you a great ally.
Accommodations are a natural, everyday thing to ask for. Even children who miss school due to the common cold might ask for a make-up test. If you or someone you know has a disability, don't be afraid to stand up for what you need.
Always be on the lookout for ways to make space for, and amplify the voices of, people with disabilities. It's not just a seat a the table but the authority to make decisions alongside others.
If ever you hear someone joking about someone with a disability or bullying them, try to intervene immediately. If you can't, be sure to get help from someone who can.
Sources: (Medical News Today) (Cleveland Clinic)
See also: How being kind is good for our health
Understanding ableism: the invisible barrier excluding millions
How society overlooks accessibility needs
LIFESTYLE Disabilities
Ableism is an often-overlooked form of discrimination that impacts the lives of people worldwide who live with significant disabilities. It highlights the systemic and societal factors that currently fail to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. From historical nightmares like forced sterilization to subtle everyday microaggressions, ableism takes many forms. Whether it’s the use of outdated language, condescension, or barriers in healthcare and employment, ableism reinforces harmful stereotypes and exclusion. By working hard to understand its roots, we can begin to create a more equitable and accessible world for everyone.
Curious about what ableism is and how to avoid it? Click through now.