How To Be Anti-Ableist
And Promote Disability Inclusion
Even though one in four Americans is disabled, ableism is one of the few remaining socially accepted forms of discrimination. It’s time to change how society values people with disabilities and create an equitable and inclusive world for all disabled people.
Here’s how.
Disclosure: This guide is written by a person without disabilities. Everyday Activism Network is actively working to become anti-ableist and is on the journey of learning and doing. We welcome feedback to support us to do better. This guide presents a few ways we are working to become anti-ableist based on our research and consultations with disability advocates and people with disabilities.
Acknowledge disability diversity while treating all disability categories equally
Disability affects more than one billion people worldwide. It includes physical, developmental, neurological, psychiatric, and sensory disabilities. Some disabilities are severe; others are minor. Some people are born with disabilities. Others become disabled through accidents, injury, illness, or aging. Sometimes disability is temporary (a broken leg), and sometimes it is forever. Nearly 26% of the U.S. population is disabled. That’s one in four people. Although certain disabilities are immediately apparent, many disabilities may be less evident or even invisible, including those related to learning, attention, mental health, or chronic pain. Additionally, many people are multiply disabled. They may have a number of obvious or less obvious disabilities, or a mix.
As a result, the disability community represents a highly diverse group of individuals from the type and visibility of the disability to how they approach disability to the resources available to access support. Therefore, it’s important to recognize that although disability may create shared experiences, it affects each individual’s daily life uniquely. And none of those differences is better or worse or more or less deserving of accommodation.
Disability terminology is also diverse
We know that words matter and that language is constantly evolving to become more inclusive and empowering. And since the disabled population is not a homogenous group, as disability language evolves, people with disabilities have different preferences regarding which words to use. For example, some prefer identity-first language (disabled person) while others prefer person-first language (person with a disability). A disabled person likely has a preference for how to refer to their specific situation. For example, deaf instead of hard of hearing or hearing impaired. Or Autistic versus person with Asperger’s or on the spectrum. There are also different preferences for referring to able-bodied and able-minded people, including abled, enabled, nondisabled, and TABs (temporarily able-bodied to reflect that we are all likely to experience disability at some point in our life).
In the same way that you respect a person’s pronouns, it’s important to respect each individual disabled person’s preferred terminology. When in doubt, just ask. And check out this guide from the National Center on Disability and Journalism.
Challenge ableism
What is ableism?
Disability activist Leah Smith defines ableism as “a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’ in one form or the other. Ableism is intertwined in our culture, due to many limiting beliefs about what disability does or does not mean, how able-bodied people learn to treat people with disabilities and how we are often not included at the table for key decisions.”
Ableism is everywhere. Our culture is rooted in the belief that disability is a disadvantage and abnormal. As a result, life is structured to make abled people the default by accommodating abled people and dismissing the needs of disabled people. What if, instead, we were taught that disabilities are normal and natural variations in human beings rather than deficits, disorders, or things that need to be fixed?
What does ableism look like?
Ableism is physical; for example, buildings without ramps, lack of braille on signs, or not using sensory-friendly lighting. It is exclusionary; for example, not providing closed captioning or planning an event at an inaccessible venue. Ableism is intrusive; for example, believing you have the right to ask how a person became disabled or not believing that a person with an invisible disability is actually disabled. Ableism is condescending; for example, assuming that disabled people are less capable or that their ability to do typical things is inspirational.
Becoming anti-ableist
Ableism is one of the most common forms of prejudice. It includes both unconscious bias and overt discrimination. Sadly, it’s also often an accepted form of discrimination. For example, many people are willing to accept the exclusion of disabled people because they believe it is inconvenient to eliminate barriers and create accommodations.
As with other -isms (think racism, sexism, heterosexism), people don’t think of themselves as ableist or recognize when they act in ableist ways. And, they may get defensive when called out for being ableist. Part of becoming anti-ableist is sitting in your discomfort and honestly reckoning with your own power and privilege. That is, anti-ableism is about recognizing abled privilege and actively dismantling it.
For more on becoming anti-ableist, check out this collection of resources from Simmons University.
Promote disability inclusion
With a recent surge in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, RespectAblity reports that only 68% of groups they surveyed mention disability as an area of focus compared to 98% who mention race. And only 35% of DEI training included training on disability. DEI commitments must become DEIA efforts by actively including disability and addressing accessibility.
Learn to identify and eliminate barriers
When you become anti-ableist, you learn to identify inequities and disparities that create barriers for disabled people and actively work towards eliminating those barriers. Disability inclusion is about ensuring that disabled people can participate in everyday activities and life roles (think: student, worker, friend, community member, consumer, client, elected official, partner, or parent). It involves supporting people with disabilities to live full lives with a range of experiences similar to abled people. And it includes ending disability segregation.
Make it safe to disclose disability
Disability disclosure happens when a person shares information about their disability with others. Someone may decide to disclose information about a disability to receive accommodations at work or school, to obtain appropriate services or healthcare, or because they want new friends or a romantic partner to know. While disclosure has the benefit of creating accommodation and inclusion opportunities, some fear they will be discriminated against or stigmatized as a result. Disclosure is always a voluntary and personal decision. If a person does decide to disclose, it can trigger the right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Implement inclusive laws, policies, and practices
Disability inclusion requires laws, policies, and practices to make society accessible and welcoming. More importantly, it requires us to implement those laws, policies, and practices to make our world a place where disabled people can participate fully as community members, have relationships, and enjoy day-to-day activities. Disability inclusion isn’t just a checklist. It requires intentional and consistent effort in every space we occupy and across all aspects of social life.
Honor nothing about us without us
“Nothing about us without us” is a powerful mantra used by the disability movement to demand equal participation. Disability inclusion should always center the lived experience of people with disabilities. Even some disability organizations have been criticized for dismissing the voices of disabled people or catering to parents’ and caregivers’ needs over disabled people’s needs.
Make disability inclusion intersectional
A person’s race, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic status, etc., all influence how they experience disability. Disability justice recognizes that systems of oppression interact with and reinforce each other to disproportionately negatively impact disabled people who belong to multiple marginalized communities.
Be aware of your language
As mentioned earlier, there are a wide variety of preferences within the disability community on what terminology to use or not use when talking about disability or people with disabilities. However, there are some things on which most people agree. For example, don’t use outdated terms such as handicapped, special needs, or differently abled. Terms with negative connotations, or that may be offensive, should never be used. Such terms include suffers from, crippled, abnormality, retarded, and dummy. Do not refer to abled people as normal. Be aware of stigmatizing language such as crazy, lame, or moron. Avoid using disability terms as adjectives to describe a person without the disability. For example, don’t call someone OCD to imply that they are very detail-oriented or methodical. Other terms to consider using or avoiding can be found in NCDJ ’s guide.
Treat people with disabilities as equals
Disabled people are not less than. They have rich lives and valuable experience. Yet, people with disabilities are often infantilized. Treat adults with disabilities like adults. Always assume intelligence and capacity. Talk to – not over or around – them. When addressing a disabled person, assume that you should speak to them, not their friend, caregiver, aide, or interpreter. Use the same tone of voice you would use with anyone else. Do not use baby talk or adapt your tone of voice to connote concern or encouragement. It will likely be interpreted as patronizing and condescending.
If a person has difficulty speaking or has cognitive delays, listen patiently and attentively. Do not attempt to finish their sentences for them.
Trust that disabled people know how to navigate their surroundings. It’s important not to assume that a disabled person needs assistance. For example, never touch or move a mobility device or service animal without permission. Before you jump in to help, ask in a non-intrusive and friendly manner if there is a way you can assist. The answer may be ‘no.’ And that’s okay.
Disability doesn’t make people extraordinary. Don’t tell disabled people that they are brave for going about their everyday lives. Value and congratulate disabled people’s genuine achievements instead of praising them for doing ordinary activities (see inspiration porn, below, for more).
Actively work to make everything accessible
Many people advocate that disability is a social construct. People are disabled not by their bodies or diagnosis but by society and its inability to adapt to or accommodate. This is known as a social model of disability (versus a medical model which sees disability as a health condition that must be cured). A social model does not deny the reality of impairment, but it does challenge us to look for ways to remove barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. And to change society to ensure equal access to people living with impairment. For example, a person using a wheelchair is not disabled because of their body, they are disabled by buildings without ramps, elevators, or wide door frames. We must all become active participants in creating a just and equitable society for disabled people by removing barriers and making everything accessible.
There are many, many resources and guides on how to make everything (think: work, school, buildings, events, transportation, products, services, websites) more accessible. Even better, you can design things from the very start to be usable by all people with a range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics (aka universal design). Don’t forget that some accommodations are required by law.
Do the work to educate yourself and then take steps to implement what you’ve learned. You should also seek input from people with disabilities to understand what specific accommodations may be needed (if any) for the exact space or thing you want to make accessible. And remember, there is no one-size-fits-all. There are a wide variety of disabilities requiring a range of accessibility solutions.
You may not be able to make everything completely accessible to everyone overnight. The important thing is to start.
Support disability representation in media and entertainment
One way to decrease disability stigma is to improve how disabled people are portrayed in media and entertainment. Accurate, authentic, and diversified disability representation is necessary for abled people to overcome stereotypes and for disabled people to see themselves and know they belong.
Storylines should accept disability as a human condition and portray disabled people as the multidimensional and whole people that they are versus focusing on their disability. Narratives should not follow common stigmatizing tropes such as disabled people “overcoming” their disability or teaching abled people a lesson about being grateful for what they have. Authentic representation also includes rejecting abled actors from portraying people with disabilities.
Learn to recognize and call out inspiration porn
Inspiration porn, a term coined by disability advocate Stella Young, portrays people with disabilities as objects of inspiration for the benefit of abled people. Having a disability does not make a person’s life any more inspirational than an abled person’s life. Yet, the media and our social feeds are filled with so-called “feel-good stories” that praise disabled people for doing completely ordinary and inconsequential things. Likewise, abled people should not be celebrated for being inclusive and anti-ableist because being inclusive and anti-ableist should be the norm. These stories are often well-intentioned but have unintended consequences by emphasizing stereotypes, turning praise into pity, and reinforcing that inclusion is not a given. Watch Stella Young’s TED Talk to learn more.
Teach kids to be anti-ableist
Children are naturally curious about the differences they see. How adults react to that curiosity can either instill acceptance or perpetuate discrimination and social exclusion. Here are some strategies for helping kids to be inclusive.
Explain differences. Ignoring disabilities can inadvertently teach children that there is something wrong with differences. It’s important to teach children how to respectfully share and learn about disability, celebrate differences, and act inclusively.
Model inclusivity. Kids watch and learn from everything the people around them do. If you want kids to be inclusive, then it’s important for you to be inclusive and speak up when you see discrimination and exclusion.
Use books. Books that have authentic and diverse characters are a great way for children to explore differences and learn about inclusivity and accessibility. Check out this list from We Are Teachers. And we recommend Rolling Warrior by trailblazing disability activist, Judith Heumann.
Learn about the history of disability rights
Throughout history, people with disabilities have been thought of as less than or as helpless citizens that are a burden to society. They were often forced into institutions or asylums and involuntarily sterilized. Some people were even euthanized. It wasn’t until 1990 (that’s only about 30 years ago!) that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and began to give disabled people equal opportunity and equal protection under the law.
Explore this online exhibit from the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
Listen to ADA Now! on NPR’s Throughline.
Read No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement by Joseph P. Shapiro and Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century edited by Alice Wong.
Take Action
Choose one action and just do it!
Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. Everyone has something important to offer. We present a range of actions that empower you to help in ways that are right for you. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can make a difference.
Learn more in our How To Be An Everyday Activist guide.
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Originally published January 25, 2022.
Guides identify both fast actions that you can take in under five minutes and more time-intensive actions that deepen your engagement. Our fast actions tend to be time-bound, as a result, some guides in the archive may contain expired links. Not to fret, we also recommend anytime actions that never go out of date.