This is not just a modern problem. It has its roots deep in history, starting with a little thing called colonialism.
Disclaimer: This article was written by a neurodivergent/disabled woman. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Fuckup Inc as an organization.
December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a date that aims to promote the rights and welfare of this population. At this time of year, many well-meaning organizations will approach you without mentioning the elephant in the room: what is ableism and why is it one of society's biggest fuck-ups?
At its core, ableism is discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and it’s as potent and pervasive as any other -ism. Those without disabilities, "normal" individuals, have historically held the upper hand, while those with disabilities have been marginalized, ostracized, and abused. This isn't just a modern issue, though. Oh no, it’s got its roots deep in history, starting from a little thing called colonialism.
Colonialism, which back in the day was primarily a white, European venture, originated this twisted belief in racial superiority -a.k.a racism,- and eugenics, an equally ugly cousin, perpetuated this notion by purporting that certain traits (including disabilities) were undesirable, and so should be eradicated. This is where ableism originated, and the fact that we still face it today is a reflection of how crucial it is to deconstruct our beliefs about disability.
Ableism isn't just one-size-fits-all; it comes in different flavors, each more ranked than the last. Physical ableism discriminates based on a person's physical abilities; mental ableism is all about intellectual or psychological abilities; and systemic ableism is entrenched in our institutions, policies, and practices. Discrimination finds its way everywhere, doesn't it?
Before moving forward, let's take a quick pit stop and clear up some concepts. When we talk about disability, three models usually pop up: the medical model, the social model, and the diversity model.
The medical model sees disability as a defect that needs fixing while the diversity model, like a breath of fresh air, argues that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity. The social model states that disability is mostly caused by the environment, as in lack of accommodations and support. In other words, it recognizes that it’s our systems, not our bodies or minds, that need the fixing. See the difference?
Don't get us wrong, we are not denying the difficulties of not being able to see or communicate, or experiencing chronic pain. What we are saying is that both the social model and the diversity model of disability make it clear that we need to work collectively to achieve radical acceptance and create a system that ensures full participation in society for people with disabilities.
At this point, it is worth mentioning that throughout this article we will be using identity-based language. But what is that?
When we say “person with a disability,” (people-first language) we say that it is unfortunate and an accident that a person is disabled. We suppress the individual’s identity as a disabled person because we are saying that disability is something inherently bad.
Using "Disabled person" (identity-first language) instead of people-first language, acknowledges and validates the individual's identity, including their disability. It affirms that disability cannot be separated from their human experience, but rather makes it much more nuanced and rich. This approach recognizes the potential and capacity to lead a fulfilling life with all their hopes, failures, successes, dreams, love, heartbreaks, laughter, learnings, and more.
Our unsolicited advice based on the disabled community is for you to stop saying things “lame,” “dumb,” “retarded,” “idiot,” “imbecile,' “nuts,” “psycho,” and “spaz.” Also avoid saying “blind,” or “tone deaf” as an insult when referring to someone without long term perspective or a person with disregard for feedback.
We're talking real change here – getting educated, challenging stereotypes, calling out ableism when you see it. Let's face it, we can do a heck of a lot better than we are now!
It’s also worth noting that terms like “differently-abled” and ”special needs” disregard the right to accommodations and support by making it seem unimportant. So here’s an invitation to avoid euphemisms and say the word out loud: DISABILITY. There’s nothing wrong with it and if you feel uncomfortable saying it, we invite you to explore why.
Too many people are clueless about this and it's high time we woke up to the fact that ableism causes trauma. This incessant discrimination triggers a domino effect that has disabled people battling an onslaught of mental health issues – a vicious cocktail including complex trauma (CPTSD), rejection-sensitive dysphoria, depression, anxiety, and major dips in self-esteem. But hey, don't look so surprised; what did you think was going to happen when a significant section of society is constantly reminded that they're 'not normal'?
The lack of basic accessibility accommodations is not just a minor inconvenience, it's a mammoth obstacle blocking the path to fair and equal mental health treatment. A report by the United Nations confirms that around 16% of the global population lives with some form of disability, and they’re two to three times more likely to experience mental health conditions.
In the United States, for instance, nearly one in five Americans live with a disability, and not-so-shockingly, they are 2.5 times more prone to experiencing depression than those without disabilities.
Capitalism, that system we love to fear and dread to love, could not thrive without ableism. It is a dirty secret that no one wants to admit, but it has been hiding in plain sight. Capabilityism is weeding out anyone deemed "unfit" for the job, thus creating a false shortage of jobs and putting downward pressure on wages.
Think about all the innovations we lose, all the brilliant minds stewing untapped, just because the system can't accommodate a wheelchair, provide headphones, or a sign language interpreter. It's a travesty, not to mention a downright economic buzzkill.
The lack of proper accommodations and support for disabled employees pushes them into welfare dependency, thus perpetuating the idea that disabled people can’t work. So, instead of becoming economically independent and fulfilling their professional goals, disabled people are forced to rely on charity, which we already know, is rarely what it seems.
Organizations like TeletonUSA, Autism Speaks, and others do not seem to get the notion that disabled people are not here to inspire the so-called 'normals'. So, what do they do? They use inspirational porn to pull at our heartstrings and wallets.
Inspiration porn, a term coined by Australian disability rights activist Stella Young, happens when disabled people’s stories are shared to make nondisabled people feel good about themselves, thus exploiting those with disabilities. Nondisabled folks donate a couple of dollars or like and share a video and feel awesome without having to change anything about their misconceptions about disability or actually becoming allies for disability justice.
To top it all off, many organizations love to exploit the innocence of disabled children by using their image without their consent, a practice closely linked with adultcentrism. They exploit their stories, turning them into overly dramatic sob sagas, just so corporations get their tax returns and boost their public image. You'd think they'd have a bit more class, wouldn't ya?
But let's not just point fingers at organizations; our education systems are equally guilty of perpetuating ableism or reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
Ah, education - the noble pursuit of enlightenment, a human right, enshrined in the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet somehow, our current education system has a knack for slamming doors in the face of neurodivergent or otherwise disabled students. And this is where the system shows its grotesque ableist streak. It's easy to blame the teachers, those unsung heroes battling on the front lines of ignorance. But let's not forget, most of them are as hapless as the students they're supposed to help.
Universal design for learning? Ha! More like universal design for failure ;)
The cookie-cutter approach to education in which teachers are trained simply does not work for everyone. We've got a system that's hell-bent on championing the “normal” student, while outright ignoring the needs of those who don't fit this narrow definition.
The lack of accommodations for disabled students is appalling and who gets the brunt of this fallout? The teachers. They step into these classrooms, armed with their degrees and diplomas, ready to mold the leaders of tomorrow. Except there's one tiny hitch: our well-meaning educators are equipped with as much understanding of teaching neurodivergent or disabled students as a penguin has of desert survival. Not to mention, they’re most likely clueless about their own ableist misconceptions, so even if they don’t mean it, they can cause harm.
Now we're diving headfirst into the revolutionary mantra of the disability rights movement: "Nothing about us without us". This phrase was first used by South African disabled people's organizations in the 80s and 90s before making its way to the US and the rest of the world. It's a wake-up call, a declaration of autonomy and self-determination that challenges the assumption that people without disabilities know what's best for those with disabilities.
Disabled people are not passive recipients of care, but active participants in their lives and society. It's a bold and needed reminder that nobody, -not even primary caregivers- has the right to make decisions about disabled people, without giving them executive and decision-making power whether in their own lives, or within organizations, communities, or governments.
That said, how about addressing intersectionality; recognizing how race, gender, sexuality, and disability intersect, and how those intersections impact people differently? We live in a world where disability is seen as an individual flaw or problem, rather than a result of societal barriers or inaccessible environments. It's high time attitudes, and perceptions shifted, and the conversation changed from disability as a hindrance to economic productivity as just another aspect of human diversity.
Now, if you're serious about becoming an anti-ableist ally, there are some BIPOC and queer disability justice influencers out there you need to follow:
Conclusion
Ableism is more than just an ethical issue – it's a societal stain that fragments communities and fuels inequality.
It's left us all in a societal mess, fostering ill-informed stereotypes, devaluing human worth, and creating barriers where everyone should be breathing in the sweet air of equity. The thing is, it's not about speaking for disabled people as if they've misplaced their voice at the bottom of a cereal box.
Don't get it twisted - disabled folks aren't voiceless, far from it. They don't need our patronizing gaze, but our allyship in challenging the demeaning narrative of "inspirational porn".
We need to see disability for what it truly is—another facet of human existence, a part of our diversity. The narrative surrounding disability must shift from pity and lower expectations to respect and full participation in society. This is the key to creating a more compassionate and inclusive world. With the power of knowledge and the might of resilience, we can surely make that happen.
Would you like your workspace to be more open about this and other topics? We highly recommend our Psychological Safety workshop and our Difficult Conversations workshop too. Fill out this form so we can design the transformation of your organizational culture, together!
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Let's transform our perception of failure and use it as a catalyst for growth.
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