Do you know? Ableism is very close to our life. Once you understand its meaning, effects, and its power, you will realize that ableism is everywhere and it is hard to stop coming across it in everyday life. A simple example is when you meet people with disabilities, without you realize it, you feel sorry for them.
So, actually, what is ableism? The term ableism was first introduced in the 1980s by the United States Disability Defender Movement. In general, ableism refers to stigma, views, and action of discrimination and obstruct the potential of people with disabilities. These practices range from giving negative comments and labels, harassment, social isolation, to establishing policies or organizational procedures that are isolating. Ableism creates invisible barriers for people with disabilities to be fully involved in the community.
There are basic steps anyone can remember when interacting with people with disabilities:
- Don’t link disability with suffering or assume a disabled person’s daily life is negative.
- Focus on the person and not his or her disability; remember, it is only one of the person’s qualities.
- Being curious is understandable, but do not ask about a disability unless the person who has it brings the matter up.
- Never use false euphemisms for disability, such as “special,” “multi-abled,” “physically challenged,” or “handi-capable.” Terms like these are inherently ableist because they imply that disability is a bad thing.
- Don’t be solicitous: Offer help only when a disabled individual asks for it.
- Avoid using ableist clichés (example: “that’s lame,” “the blind leading the blind”) in writing or speech.
- Inspirational stories about disabled people who overcame great problems seem positive but they are usually ableist, as is trying to find inspiration in the experience of a disabled individual you just met.
- Address disabled people directly as your equal: Don’t try to find out the person’s needs by asking an attendant or family member.
- Don’t ask people with disabilities personal questions that you would not want to answer if asked.
Here are just six forms of this behavior that, though largely normalized, need to be retired immediately.
- Failing to provide accessibility beyond wheelchair ramps
The most obvious form of discrimination people with disabilities face is the inability to access places and services open to their able-bodied counterparts, even with laws in place to prevent such inequality.
- Using ableist language
Examples of ableist language are idiot, crazy, blind, retarded, and others.
- Able-bodied people failing to check their privilege
For example, many able-bodied people use handicapped bathroom stalls or take up space in crowded elevators, rather than taking the stairs and leave room for people with disabilities.
- Assuming people with disabilities have no autonomy
- Feeling entitled to know how people become disabled
Putting the onus on people with disabilities to explain themselves is inappropriate, unfair, and insulting.
- Assuming disability is always visible
REFERENCES
Carruthers, Juan Francisco Vasquez. 2019. A Nondisabled’s Guide to Ableist Language. espaciostransnacionales.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ET13_Vasquez.pdf. Accessed on 30th of November 2020.
Cleoputri Yusain, Slamet Thohar, & Rachmad Gustomy. 2016. #StopAbleism: Reduksi Stigma kepada Penyandang Disabilitas melalui Intervensi Bias Implisit. Universitas Brawijaya Malang: Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik. Vol. 43. https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/127327-ID-stopableism-reduksi-stigma-kepada-penyan.pdf. Accessed on 30th of November 2020.
Dunn, Dana S. 2019. Recognizing, understanding, and avoiding ableism. Moravian College. www.apa.org/pi/disability/committee/recognizing-and-avoiding-ableism.pdf. Accessed on 1st of December 2020.
News Ouch BBC. 2014. First There Was Racism and Sexism, Now There’s Ableism. http://www. bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-27840472. Accessed on 30th of November 2020.
Zeilinger, Julie. 2015. 6 Forms of Ableism We Need to Retire Immediately. New York: Mic. mic.com/articles/121653/6-forms-of-ableism-we-need-to-retire-immediately. Accessed on 1st of December 2020.
ARTICLE by
Azarine Shidqi Najla