Identifying ableism in our everyday lives
By Deana Kaplan, Chief Development & Communications Officer
As a nondisabled person, it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve started my personal journey in understanding disability as a natural form of human diversity and the complexity, history, and significance of the disability rights movement. I didn’t have disability studies in my educational system as a student (which is another issue altogether–everyone needs this information!) and have had to consciously educate myself as an adult.
Scrolling through my social media feed recently, I came across a few posts that made me pause. While to many, these may have seemed well-meaning, they were actually deeply rooted in ableism. I took a few seconds to unfollow and hide this content from my feed so that I won’t be further contributing to their growth, but that’s not enough.
While I may not see these posts anymore, what about the thousands that will? And of those, how many will like, share, and continue to lift up problematic content–without grasping the negativity and harm they’re sharing?
What were these posts that made me stop and really think? They’re posts we’ve all seen hundreds of times before:
The high school that named two students with Down Syndrome prom king and queen
A wheelchair user whose sons help her stand up from her chair to dance at a family wedding
The person who succeeded in life ‘despite’ their disability
You may read this and think, but those stories make me ‘feel good,’ what’s wrong with that? The truth is–everything! Have you ever stopped to consider why these stories make you feel good? Often when nondisabled people see someone with a disability receiving help or being highlighted for everyday acts, it is perceived as kindness. Yet, the messaging of content like this is that disabled people lack capacity and ability, so they need nondisabled people to pity them.
When you like or share a post that celebrates someone ‘overcoming’ their disability, the underlying message you’re sending is that disability is a deficit or limitation which needs to be fixed.
This is ableism.
According to the Center for Disability Rights, “ableism is a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’ in one form or the other.”
Ableism is so deeply rooted in our society that you probably don’t realize you’re contributing to it on a daily basis. It’s found in the words we use, in the way we talk to and about people with disabilities, and the lack of accessibility in our schools, businesses and communities.
So, what do we do from here?
Access Living shared this post several years ago that still rings true today. The author shares common forms of ableism and ways that you can recognize and avert it. We all need to start our journey somewhere. Whether what I’m sharing today is brand new to you, or a friendly reminder of what you already know–we can all do better. I’m doing my part by reading books about disability by authors with lived experiences, diversifying the books I read with my young children, eliminating problematic phrases from conversations among my family and friends, and following disabled activists on social media and truly listening to what they’re sharing. This is a journey, and I hope it’s one you’ll join me on.
The next time you see one of these ‘feel good’ posts, I encourage you to pause and really think about what is being shared. Disabled people are no better or worse than nondisabled people. They’re not to be pitied or looked at with admiration. They’re people. We all are, and we all deserve respect and dignity in all aspects of our lives.
Want to learn more about disability studies yourself? Check out the disability inclusion training for adults that our team provides for businesses and community organizations. Want to give the students in your life access to disability studies education? Tell the educators and school administrators in your network about TNP!
Never miss a post! Subscribe to the Nora Notes blog and get the latest delivered straight to your inbox weekly.