What is ableism?
Ableism gives a negative view of disability. It identifies being nondisabled as the ideal and disability as a flaw or abnormality.
It is a form of systemic oppression that affects people who identify as disabled, as well as anyone who others perceive to be disabled.
“Internalised ableism can have effects on individuals’ mental and physical health. It can lead to self-blame, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and social isolation.”
Are you struggling with internalised ableism?
Ableism and disablism, while often used interchangeably, have distinct meanings that influence our understanding of disability and discrimination.
Ableism refers to the attitudes, beliefs, and practices that devalue people with disabilities. It’s rooted in the assumption that able-bodied and neurotypical individuals are the norm, making those who deviate from these standards seem inferior.
Ableism manifests in various ways, from physical barriers, like buildings without ramps, to societal stigmas surrounding mental health. It often goes unnoticed, embedded in the everyday fabric of society.
For example, a classroom that lacks accessible materials for a visually impaired student or a workplace that doesn’t offer flexible hours for someone with a chronic illness perpetuates ableist norms. These situations frequently arise not from malice, but because the needs of disabled people aren’t considered.
Disablism, in contrast, is a more explicit form of discrimination. It refers to the deliberate exclusion or mistreatment of disabled individuals. While ableism is often unconscious and passive, disablism is active and intentional. It’s the act of marginalizing or oppressing people based on their disabilities. This could be through discriminatory hiring practices, bullying, or even outright violence.
For example, a company that explicitly refuses to hire someone because of their disability is engaging in disablism, as is someone who mocks or verbally abuses a person with a disability.
Understanding the difference between ableism and disablism is crucial. Addressing ableism involves raising awareness and changing ingrained practices. It requires a shift in perspective—from seeing disability as a flaw that needs fixing to understanding it as part of human diversity.
Universal Design, which promotes creating environments and products usable by all, embodies this approach. The curb cut, initially designed to assist wheelchair users, has proven beneficial to many, including parents with strollers and travellers with luggage. This “curb cut effect” shows how addressing ableism can lead to broader social benefits.
On the other hand, combating disablism often requires legal action and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. In India, for example, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, aims to tackle disablism by prohibiting discrimination in employment, education, and other public areas. Disablism demands accountability and ensures that disabled individuals have the same rights and opportunities as others.
Both ableism and disablism originate from a societal devaluation of disability. Yet, they differ in their expression and impact.
Truth is ableism sucks. But we need to remember that external barriers and prejudices no matter how challenging they are do not dictate whether or not a Disabled life has meaning, love or laughter.
The good and the bad without the able world deciding how the Disabled experience should be viewed.
Simply, listen, and ask how to help change the systemic and institutional barriers we still face today and every day.
And that is The View from Where I Sit!!!
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