Ableism

Nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States has a disability, yet many forms of discrimination against the disability community persist because they are not yet widely recognized.

Ableism refers to "discrimination in favor of able-bodied people" according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Inherent in ableism is the belief that people with disabilities cannot function as full members of society and that having a disability is a defect rather than a difference.

Examples of ableism are readily available in the built environment, where concerns about accessibility are often not foremost in the design process. Instead of fully accessible and welcoming spaces, accommodations are tacked on haphazardly, leading to hard-to-navigate spaces. With the passage of ADA, progress has been made but inclusive design is still the exception, not the norm.

Disability segregation—limiting the movement of disabled persons in public spaces—is commonplace and accepted. Many times, we have to use sketchy side or back entrances, dark and cluttered hallways, or poorly functioning and inaccessible elevators to enter and move about establishments. There’s often no signage so we have to announce our disability and needs. Disability comes with its own unique challenges and trials, but the inability to move freely through our communities, easily get to work, visit friends’ and relatives’ homes — and the social isolation that follows — is a violation of our rights and a detriment to our health.

Able-bodied individuals fail to recognize the privilege of having ready access to any space. Plenty of people may not directly discriminate against people with disabilities but if you use handicapped parking spaces or bathroom stalls you are effectively doing so by taking options away from people who lack alternatives.

Inclusion is the answer. It means that spaces, opportunities, and things are accessible, functional, and welcoming for the able-bodied as well as those with disabilities. An inclusive society removes the barriers and isolation that people with disabilities face every day.

9 Things That Might Not Seem Ableist But Actually Are