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

Accessible?

Sometimes my MS seems to be a continuous series of things I can't do anymore and places I can’t go anymore.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in American life.

It’s been over 25 years since the ADA was signed into law and unfortunately progress has stalled. I’ve seen things that confirm this for me. When a place, particularly a business, claims to be wheelchair accessible, a lot of times it really isn’t – it is only accessible to the minimal required standards. They think that just because there isn’t a step to enter the establishment it is accessible. False!  The doorway may be too narrow to accommodate my power wheelchair, the door may be too heavy or awkward for me to open on my own or there isn’t an automatic door. Public restrooms often don’t get it right either.  Many times there isn’t a support bar next to the toilet that is an ADA regulated height.

The thing is: ADA is not an accessibility guideline, it is a law. Using your accessible bathroom for extra storage doesn’t cut it. At an accessibility conference in Melbourne, Australia in March of last year, the main speaker (who was in a wheelchair) had to be carried on stage because there weren’t any ramps. At an accessibility conference, the stage was not accessible. You can read more about this story here.

Over the Christmas holiday, my husband and I planned to take a short trip to Monterey, California. We reserved an ADA accessible room at a fancy hotel and confirmed they had the accessible features most important to me: a support bar next to a heightened toilet. After we checked in, we went to our room. There was a support bar next to the toilet but the bathroom was very tight; the huge marble sink was perpendicular to the toilet making it impossible for me to line up my power wheelchair for a transfer. Before heading to the main desk, we checked out the restrooms in the lobby on the Bay side of the hotel. These were not configured well for my use. We then went to the main desk and spoke with the manager. The only thing he could do was transfer us to a new room on the inland side that was not accessible but had and accessible bathrooms in the lobby. So every time I needed to use the restroom I had to go to the lobby. This would have to do. We ended up cutting our vacation short because of this inconvenience. Sadly, I was not that surprised, merely disappointed.

People need to do more to understand what accessibility means for all. And to live up to the law that guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life.

Limitations

One of the greatest challenges of MS is the unpredictability and uncertainty of what is to come. The effects of multiple sclerosis vary based on which part of the brain or spine is damaged, or more specifically where damage to the nerve-protecting myelin has occurred. As a result, symptoms can be radically different from patient to patient. There isn't any typical MS; everyone's MS is unique to them. It's a very difficult disease to understand. But as you live with it, you need to understand your MS.

Since my MS mainly affects my mobility, I have to be aware of accessibility. I have to be more prepared than before. This takes the spontaneity out of going out. I need to know whether the places that I go are handicapped accessible or not. There’s nothing worse than getting somewhere and finding that you can’t enter because of a stair or stoop. I also need to know whether the restrooms are handicapped accessible or not. This small detail to some is of utmost importance to me.

I am lucky to live in a condo that has a ramp and elevator with a courtyard in a neighborhood that is vibrant and active. I also live near BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) that can get me around town pretty easily (as long as the elevators are working!) I am also fortunate to have friends that understand my limitations and make a point of coming to me and not letting me feel too isolated. As does my husband and family.

Overall though, I think that there's a limited understanding of what it's like to exist in a less-abled, wheelchair-bound, body. This needs to change. Thankfully, Jason DaSilva of AXS (read: access) Map is bringing us a kind of Yelp for people with disabilities. Creating this viewpoint for those without disabilities is crucial to making a change in society. The disability rights movement needs to gain momentum.

I am thankful that my MS has left my mind unimpaired and I can get around in a wheelchair. But it needs to be easier. There is a fight to be had.