What is ableism?

A common definition of ableism is discrimination against disabled* people.

Discrimination is unjust and prejudicial treatment towards a group or individuals. Ableism involves a discrimination towards people with disabilities. People with disabilities can include people with physical, intellectual, behavioural and mental health disabilities, and/or medical complexities.

Ultimately, ableism is the discrimination towards someone based on their abilities, often favouring those who do not have a disability and seeing less value in those that do. Ableism can be reflected in actions, words, behaviours, and access issues.

People’s experiences of ableism can be intersectional—that is, influenced by other parts of their identity, like their experiences as a member of the LBGTQIA2S+ community or as a Black, Indigenous or person of colour.

* Our Disability Inclusion Hub uses both person-first (“disabled person”) and identity-first (“person with a disability” language, reflecting the diverse preferences of our community. Click here for more tips for talking about disability.

Here are some examples of ableism:

At school: Awards for perfect attendance exclude students whose disabilities mean that they cannot always be at school
At work: Inaccessible workspaces, for example not having accessible desks or the ability to work remotely, exclude people with disabilities from participating in the workforce
In the community: Events and spaces that don’t account for physical and sensory needs exclude people with disabilities
In our beliefs: The assumption that people with disabilities want or need to be ‘fixed’
In conversation: Using harmful, outdated language to talk about disability, or making generalizations that imply all people with disabilities must think, feel or act a certain way

Ableism can also be internalized. People with disabilities are exposed to ongoing ableism and often adopt these views towards themselves and others in the community.

Here are some examples of internalized ableism:

Avoiding expressing accessibility needs or accommodations
Answering other people’s questions about your disability to appease them
Masking (covering up) symptoms or parts of your experience of disability
Feeling shame about your body and/or disability
Feeling unworthy of respect, friendship or love
Feelings of “otherness”

So, how can we avoid being ableist?

Ableism often comes from a lack of awareness about disability and the systemic physical and attitudinal barriers that exclude people within the disability community. Follow these steps to increase awareness and support meaningful change for people with disabilities:

Check out these resources to start the conversation about ableism. These resources are a great way to start learning about disability and ableism, but the more you learn, you realize that everyone’s experiences are unique.
It’s important to ask individuals what makes them feel safe and respected, but recognize that people may not always want to talk about their disability. And remember, every individual may have a different need or preference, depending on their personal experience.
Go out of your way to find resources about anti-ableism. Make sure your information is from a reliable source, written by or in consultation with disabled people. However, do not rely on people with disabilities to provide these resources or answer all your questions.
Read and share stories that explore issues of disability rights. You can always find new stories on the Holland Bloorview website and BLOOM blog.
Talk with kids about similarities and differences between people, including, but not limited to disability
Find ways to make sure all activities and events are inclusive so that kids with and without disabilities can participate and engage together.

(Adapted from @littlefeministbookclub on Instagram)

Important dos and don’ts

Don’t

Exclude someone from a game or activity because of their disability
Talk to a person with a disability like they are a baby
Design spaces that are not accessible to people with disabilities
“Help” a person with a disability without asking if they need help
Use harmful, outdated language about disability
Refuse to change plans to accommodate someone’s needs
Be patronizing and view someone with a disability as “inspiring,” simply because they exist and are out during their day-to-day
Assume that someone can’t do something because of their disability
Cast someone who does not have a disability to play a character with a disability

(Adapted from Access Living)

Change the game or activity so that everyone can participate
Talk to a person with a disability like you would anyone else
Hire qualified consultants with lived-experience to design accessible spaces
Respect boundaries and help only when asked or if they accept your offer to help. Consent matters
Ask what language someone uses to refer to their disability
Create plans that accommodate and include everyone’s needs
Be inspired because of what they have accomplished, not in spite of or because of their disability
Assume that people are capable unless they say otherwise
Cast only actors with disabilities to play characters with disabilities