Ableism: discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities. Also called disability discrimination and disability oppression.
Ableism is to disability as racism is to race.
Ableism is someone not giving me a job because they see my hearing aids, someone else saying that ADHD is made up to get extra time on tests, it’s people reaching out to push someone in their wheelchair without asking. Ablesim is trying to avoid including kids with disabilities in the school, it’s paying people with intellectual disabilities pennies for their work, it’s institutionalizing people with disabilities, it’s also sexual abuse perpetuated against people with disabilities.
Ableism is using the word, “retard”, it’s blocking the accessible entrance, it’s in not making an event accessible to people with disabilities – shutting them out. Ableism is aborting children specifically because they have a disability.
Ableism is not allowing a person with a disability the same basic rights, dignity, access, inclusion and opportunity as people without disabilities.
There is a hashtag going strong on Twitter now – #StopAbleismBecause – check it out – and join yourself, even if you are not disabled. You are an ally:
#StopAbleismBecause:
– everyone has a place and space and deserves respect
– hiring needs to be about skills and talent; not legs
– the worth of a person is unrelated to what their physical body can or cannot do
– all children deserve an education that suits them, not the system
#StopAbleismBecause:
The time has come.
****
Join in: #StopAbleismBecause
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
Great post, Meriah! A great explanation of what Ableism is. Off to share and join the campaign!
thank you!!!