Ableism Introduction Many groups of people experience disenfranchisement. This paper will seek to review people experiencing disenfranchisement related to ableism in its various forms. The oppression of the disabled and the social injustices they bear will be considered, as well as the myths and stereotypes associated to the disabled. The author will seek to gain knowledge and understanding of this group of people and their functioning within our society. Demographics Ableism is defined as a social condition that assumes all people are able-bodied. The theory argues that we all exist in a society that was created by and for people who are able-bodied. This applies not only to physical and architectural space, but to social and educational environments as well (Anderson, 2001). Seven years ago, it was estimated that that there are more than 50 million people in the world identified as being disabled (Thompson, 2009). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disabled as "(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities; (B) a record of such impairment; or (C) is regarded as having such an impairment (Kaminer, p.209)." Disabled people are found in all communities. Ableism has no boundaries of class, race or gender; anyone can be disabled. Some people are born disabled while others fall ill, mentally and physically. Others suffer debilitating injuries that have life altering impact. Some examples of disabled people are
Ableism is defined as, “the all-encompassing discrimination and exclusion of people living with disabilities” (Adams et al, 461). However, in order to determine if ableism is occurring, then one must first know what constitutes a disability. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, someone has a disability if they have a considerable handicap that hinders the actions that are important for life, such as “walking, seeing, hearing, learning, speaking, breathing, standing, lifting, or caring for one’s self” (Adams et al, 461). Disabled people make up the largest minority in the world with their estimated population at 650 million people (Adams et al, 461). Of this 650 million people, 360 million people have some sort of disabling
“There's nothing more debilitating about a disability than the way people treat you over it.”( Solange Nicole) In today's God abandoning society there are many people voicing about equality. There are feminists, those against racism, those against homophobia, and those opposed to everything. Each group seems to have people standing up for them. Although when it comes to a group of cripples there's not many that can do the standing. Ableism: Discrimination in favor of able-bodied people. While many people don't know that word, or do not believe such a thing exists, there are many things proving that it does. It is easy to get caught up in life and not realize the difficulties people have, especially ones that could be easily fixed, just by
Society can never strive to be “Normal” because it leaves out many people and creates an assumption that anyone who has a disability has something wrong with them. The able-body has to strive to find a way to include people with disabilities because they do not lack anything, because the way society is built has made them have impairments. People need to come together in order to start building the world where it is setup for anyone. Checking your own privileges shows that you have understand how life is set up the way it is and education is key factor to create change in Ableism. Abel-body people have to do their job of creating a world suitable for everyone. Privileges come with responsibility to help people who have disabilities. The responsibility to look out for everyone can bring perceptive on how people should value everything that is given to them and see everyone as being
Disabled people often deal with many challenges every day. Tasks that normal people do daily are very delicate and difficult for disabled people. People with disabilities are treated differently than those who do not have a disability. A disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities. Learning about people living with a disability can help overcome misinformation and misunderstanding. There are about seven billion people in the world. Approximately fifteen percent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. There are two types of disabilities - impairment and handicaps. While a disability is a life-changing challenges experience, most people find impressive and innovative ways to cope in their lives.
The path to enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the history of the disability rights movement and its struggle to attain a better chance for equality not unlike other minority groups. The Disability community came to realize that the problem they were fighting was discrimination. The Disability community came face to face with some of the same problems and challenges that every individual who is in the minority faces. However, a disabled individual was not considered to be in a minority therefore could not be afforded the protections under the Civil Rights Act. A growing sense of unrest or change in mood galvanized and empowered the Disability community to fight for its civil rights. Federal laws that were enacted
Ableism and Disability oppression is a concept that is often ignored and underrepresented in social justice issues. The concept of ableism is the idea that society is disadvantageous towards people with disabilities and mental illnesses. When analyzing institutional, societal, and cultural structures through the view of ableism and disability oppression, one can concur that exclusionary practices allow for the despotism of people with disabilities and mental issues. Furthermore, the underlying issues of the institutional ableism allow for the perpetuation of mental illness and disability stigmas. For instance, in the reading Ableism it states, “The medicalization of disability fostered the belief that people with disabilities needed to be monitored
The disability rights movement was credited to all the people who have worked for years organizing and attending protests, licking envelopes, sending out alerts, drafting legislation, speaking, testifying, negotiating, lobbying, filing lawsuits, getting arrested – they believed in doing whatever they could for a cause . In 1973, there was a shift in the disability, public policy (Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act). Section 504 was amended to a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), which extends this prohibition against discrimination to the full range of state and local government services, programs, and activities (including public schools) regardless of whether they receive any Federal financial assistance . The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (Amendments Act), effective January 1, 2009, amended the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) that affects the meaning of “disability” in Section 504. Although, Congress introduced the American with Disability Act (ADA) in 1988; however it was not until July 26, 1990, when it began. In 2008, ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was
In the United States alone over fifty-six million people, or nineteen percent of the population, struggles with disabilities. Each one is unique, ranging from mild to intense, physical or mental, to even behavioral. The way society views this group is as though the handicapped are inferior to others. The aforementioned viewpoint has made terminology such as “retarded” or “slow” second nature in an average American’s vocabulary. It is unjust and has no right in modern civilization.
When people hear the term oppression, they immediately associate this word with the struggles minorities have endured throughout history. This term does not only apply to the tribulations of various ethnic groups but also to persons with disabilities. Oppression means the use of authority or power in a way that is cruel and unjust. Even though the times have changed, both minorities and persons with disabilities still fight this battle daily to be treated equally.
Over the year’s perceptions and attitudes towards people with disabilities have varied from community to community. Approximately 50 million Americans with disabilities today lead independent, confident, and happy lives. There have been many advancements in healthcare and thus, most disabled individuals live within their community rather than an institution. For many centuries people with disabilities have been battling harmful stereotypes, ridiculous assumptions, and fear that they do not fit in.
Disabled people are not often represented in “normal” roles in society, especially in the workforce. Therefore, many people objectify them in the the sense that they are looked at as object of inspiration. (“I am Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much”. Stella Young.)
It is estimated that 15% of the world’s population experience some form of disability, with the prevalence being much higher in developing countries . As such, it has been the case that this group repeatedly becomes the subject of [the media]. The depiction of the disabled in the media plays a key role in society’s perception of what it means to be disabled and is a reflection of the shifting discourses assigned to this group throughout
However their feelings in regard to society's view of the “disabled” have some striking
People with mobility impairments have not created oppositional consciousness for their disability, but have been grouped together with individuals who are deaf or blind in developing an overall “disability consciousness” (Mansbridge & Morris, 2001). “Crucial to disability consciousness is the belief that all people with disabilities are oppressed in the sense of having been unjustly deprived of power, status, and opportunities…Like members of other oppressed groups who have developed an oppositional consciousness, people with a disability consciousness contend that their subordinate position is not due to personal failure” (Mansbridge & Morris, 2001, p. 84). People with disabilities believe they have suffered “negative status results from a
When examining how our society is today it is very easy to see that we live in a world which is full of ableism. Ableism is defined as being “discrimination or prejudice against individuals who live with disabilities” (Merriam- Webster Dictionary). In other words, we live in a world where there are many structural oppressions which get in the way of individuals who had disabilities of living an ordinary life. A way in which we can examine this issue is through feminist theory strategies. Feminist Theory can be defined as “a way of explaining the reasons for pervasive gender inequality, often in relation to other categories of social difference” (Liinamaa 2018 class 1). By using feminist theory, we are able to use so many resources and practice