Understanding Ableism

As a non-disabled person, it has become clear to me that I have so much to learn about my unearned privileges and how I directly or indirectly collude with or support ableism.  It can be very easy for me to look at issues related to disabilities at the personal and interpersonal levels – I will change my beliefs and values related to disabilities or people with disabilities (personal) and do my best to not be offensive/paternalistic in the way that I treat people with disabilities or the language that I use (interpersonal).  It is a daily and intentional task to see how the system of oppression, ableism, benefits me on a regular basis at the expense of people with disabilities, both visible and not so visible.

Ableism is a system in which people without disabilities are accepted as “normal” and “capable” and people with disabilities are treated as abnormal, pitiful, to be feared and inferior.  Ableism grants privileges and unearned advantages to non-disabled people and denies people with disabilities full and equal access to housing, employment, health care, education, marriage, etc. Furthermore, ableism is a pervasive system of discrimination and exclusion that oppresses people with disabilities.  A system in which people without disabilities maintain supremacy over people with disabilities through a set of attitudes, behaviors, social structures, rewards, privileges, and benefits of the society are available to individuals according to their presumed level of ability. (Haus-Johnson and Squires, 2010)

As a result of ableism, as a non-disabled person:

• When I apply for a position, my abilities, not my disabilities, are fairly assessed during the employment process.
• I can be sure that the initial reaction to me as a person will not be one of pity, fear or sympathy.
• When I am in a mentoring relationship, it is not always assumed I am the mentee.
• My life experiences are not used for other people’s inspiration, motivation, or gratitude.
• My high achievements on standardized tests will not be discounted because of accommodations.
• I can be visible and engaged in discussions at work without extra effort.
• My decision to have a family will never be discussed within the context of fear of passing along a genetic disposition or without my parenting abilities being questioned because of my disability.
• I am able to participate in the community without it being called therapy, rehabilitation, or skills training.

These are just a few ways in which the oppressive system of ableism benefits me as a non-disabled person at the expense of people with disabilities.  It may be helpful for anyone of us who is non-disabled to reflect on our privileges as a result of ableism and work to address these issues within our spheres of influence by reflecting on the following questions:

• Where do I choose to hold my programs/meetings and are these locations places that are not only ADA compliant, but truly accessible for the full participation of people with disabilities?
• In what ways do I work to include people with disabilities in the development of my programs which target their participation so that their realities and perspectives help guide my work?
• What work do I need to do, personally and professionally, to better understand/investigate my thoughts, beliefs and actions in my relationships with people with disabilities?
• Do my materials reflect the inclusion of people with disabilities or different learning abilities or cognitive abilities?
• What people with disabilities do I have as a “community of accountability” that help to guide, support and challenge my personal and professional work around ableism and my desire to include people with disabilities in my programs/initiatives?
• In what ways does the oppressive system of ableism disconnect me from being able to authentically and effectively work with people with disabilities in ways that allow us all to thrive and sustain our work over time?

Dionardo Pizaña

Diversity and Personnel Specialist

Michigan State University Extension