In recent years, the term 'ableism' has gained prominence, particularly within the disabled community across social media platforms. Whilst it may remain unfamiliar to many, for disabled activists, it has become a crucial concept, representing a parallel to sexism, classism, homophobia, racism and religious intolerance—terms used to denote the organisational, institutional and structural injustice faced by marginalised groups.
Defining Ableism and Anti-Ableism
To effectively identify the characteristic discrimination imposed on disabled people, we must define ableism:
Ableism: A specific form of oppression, akin to homophobia, racism, classism, ageism and sexism, embedded in the culture and language that shape societal debates.
Anti-ableist: A defined stance against ableism, the characteristic oppression faced by disabled people—similar to feminist or anti-racist positions. Theorising with anti-ableist legitimacy involves explicit reference to disabled people as primary narrators in storytelling that centres their interests.
As an anti-ableist practitioner and writer, I strive to articulate opposition to ableism in the world around me. Whilst respecting individual experiences and identity choices, I work to disrupt institutional and societal narratives that perpetuate ableism. Disabled authors have made significant efforts to define their experiences, encouraging us to focus on the injustices they face.
Moving Beyond Identity
Addressing ableism requires looking beyond individual identity and personal prejudice. Whilst these factors are significant, they fail to fully explain the stark inequalities faced by the disabled population. Many struggle to articulate this pervasive inequality, despite its toxicity and omnipresence in societal storytelling.
Critical disability theory, much like critical race theory, has provided a language to articulate the structural discrimination faced by disabled people as a marginalised group. Ableism, as a specific and insidiously hidden form of discrimination, has a unique character. It's crucial to understand that disability doesn't exist on a continuum opposite to ability; rather, its opposite is the privilege of living without being viewed as a problem.
Ableism in Societal Discourse
Ableism manifests in conversations at various levels—from group and departmental to organisational, local and national. Each level has distinct ways of silencing or distorting the voices of disabled people by denying their experiences, domesticating their ideas, appropriating their knowledge or refusing to include divergent perspectives in theoretical discourse.
The issue isn't necessarily that people intentionally speak ill of disabled individuals, but rather that society has grown accustomed to accepting unchallenged narratives about them. Consequently, disabled authors are less frequently regarded as trusted and truthful storytellers. Their accounts are often absent from organisational, institutional and public debates, relegated instead to specialist literature.
Media representation often portrays disabled people as saints or sinners, lauding or vilifying their individual stories. This simplistic dichotomy erases the nuanced voices of disabled people from global and local storytelling. When these assumptions are written into guidance, policy and strategy, they perpetuate stereotypes or, worse, forget disabled people altogether.
Breaking the Cycle of Misrepresentation
To interrupt this cycle of misrepresentation, we must:
1. Spot stereotypes: Learn from disabled individuals' experiences, knowledge and professional wisdom. Seek out rigorous, evidence-based sources that challenge dominant narratives.
2. Challenge assumptions: Reflect on our immediate reactions and biases, recognising the pervasive nature of stereotypes in our conversations and media consumption.
3. Consider the storytellers: Understand narratives from alternative perspectives, placing disabled authors at the forefront. Recognise how everyday conversations often erase the experiences, knowledge and wisdom of disabled people.
4. Understand communication: Recognise that behaviours that confound us may be challenges to increase empathy. Consider how internalised ableism might lead individuals to act in ways that mystify those around them.
5. Be disability-specific and anti-ableist: Engage with D/deaf and Disabled People's Organisations as authentic sources of the population's interests, uniting multiple voices around a shared vision.
Moving Forward
For professionals willing to address these issues, Disability Equality, rooted in disability studies, provides a good entry point. Despite an era of rising social awareness, the institutional and societal injustice specific to disability has long lacked a name, voice and recognition equivalent to other civil rights movements.
By acknowledging and actively combating ableism, we can work towards a more inclusive society that values the experiences, contributions and rights of disabled individuals.
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