Ableism is the idea that some bodies and minds are better than others
By Louise Kinross
Most Canadians understand the meaning of racism and sexism, but only one-third can define ableism, according to a recent survey by Canadian polling firm Leger.
Holland Bloorview wants to change that.
The hospital’s Dear Everybody campaign this year aims to get people talking about ableism as a first step in dismantling it.
Ableism is a form of discrimination in which only some bodies, minds and behaviours are viewed as 'normal' and valuable. It results in a bias against those with disabilities.
The Leger survey found almost 80 per cent of Canadians agree that society favours non-disabled people, while 70 per cent feel those with a disability are devalued.
Gavi, 10 (second from right in photo above), is part of the Dear Everybody campaign. She has a speech impairment that can make her voice hard to understand. “Sometimes people cut me off, or don’t give me enough time to talk,” says Gavi, who is heading into Grade 6 and wants to be a criminal prosecutor. “That makes me feel like I’m not valued, that people don’t care what I have to say, or that people think I don’t mean anything. In fact, I have a lot to say."
Sometimes people pretend to understand Gavi, she says, when they obviously don’t. She'd rather they tell her. “If they can’t understand me, I can write it down, or they can tell me what I should do to be better understood." Also, noting that communication is a two-way street, Gavi says: "The more you get to know me and listen to me, the better you will understand me."
Gavi wants kids who haven't experienced ableism to talk to youth with disabilities about it and learn from them. “My voice doesn’t stop me from having a lot to say.”
As part of its campaign, Holland Bloorview invites the public to talk about ableism on social media, tagging their posts with #DearEverybody #EndAbleism.
This is the fifth year of the Dear Everybody campaign. In previous years, Holland Bloorview has encouraged brands and organizations to start including people with disabilities in their advertising and content by signing our Dear Everybody Agreement.
For more information on this year’s campaign, and to find out about our upcoming #EndAbleism panels, visit Dear Everybody. Check out Gavi's Dear Everybody video.
