For August’s Diversity Dictionary we partnered with Sulaiman Khan of @ThisAbilityLtd to share definitions that centre the voices and experiences of disabled people.
In the process of creating these posts for August and partnering with This Ability, we at TOB HQ learned so much about our own non-disabled privilege, and about how deeply ingrained internalised ableist tendencies are in all of us and in the society we live in. It’s important to acknowledge that no matter how far along we are in our diversity, equity and inclusion journey, there is always more to learn.
We hope this month’s words will empower you to think differently about disability and ableism, and to find ways to show up as an intersectional ally for our disabled friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances.
Disability
There are two different definitions for disability that we’d like to share: the ‘medical model’ and the ‘social model’.
The widely used medical model states that disability is caused by the health condition a person has and the nature of this condition will determine what they can and can’t do. It suggests that in order for everyone to participate fully in society, everyone would need a non-disabled body and mind. This makes ‘disability’ the result of the person being different, not of society. (Source: Mental Health Foundation)
The social model was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by people with disabilities and is a civil rights approach to disability. It suggests that if modern life was set up in a way that was accessible for people with disabilities then they would not be excluded or restricted.
The social model of disability makes the distinction between ‘impairments’, which are the individual problems that may prevent people from doing something, and ‘disability’, which is the additional disadvantage bestowed by a society that treats these ‘impairments’ as abnormal, thus unnecessarily excluding disabled people from full participation in society.
According to the social model of disability, some of the key ways people are disabled by society are through: prejudice, labelling, ignorance, lack of financial independence, families being over protective, not having information in formats which are accessible to them.
Here’s an example of the social model of disability in practice: a town designed with wheelchairs in mind, with no stairs or escalators. If we designed our environment this way, wheelchair users would be able to be as independent as everyone else. It is society which puts these barriers on people by not making our environments accessible to everyone.
Although “people with disabilities” sometimes refers to a single population, this is actually a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Two people with the same type of impairment can be affected in very different ways. Some impairments may be invisible or not easy to see. And not all disabled people are wheelchair users.
As such, there is also no single “correct” way for disabled people to identify - disabled people can identify in a variety of ways and with a variety of terms. As with any ‘label’, it is best to follow the individual’s lead and establish their preference rather than making assumptions.
ableism
According to lawyer and activist @talilalewis, ableism is a system that places value on people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normalcy, intelligence, excellence and productivity. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in anti-Blackness, eugenics, colonialism and capitalism.
This form of systemic oppression leads to people and society determining who is valuable and worthy based on a person’s appearance and/or their ability to satisfactorily [re]produce, excel and “behave”. (Source: @talilalewis)
Institutions such as financial, medical and judicial systems are inherently designed to prioritise lives of those considered non-disabled (or “able-bodied”), while stigmatising, criminalising and marginalising those who are disabled.
This means ableism is so normalised and unquestioned in society that it can be hard to notice, especially if you are non-disabled. For example, most buildings lack ramps, elevators, or push-buttons for doors.
Another example of ableism is the way in which many disabled people have for decades fought for, been denied and even lost their jobs as a result of needing to work from home with technology for accessibility needs. Yet in the context of a global pandemic, many work-from-home and technology adjustment policies that were once said to be impossible by companies are now being widely and effortlessly implemented.
Cultural ableism is when representation of disabled people in media is either lacking or largely negative. Story lines often write disabled characters to be angry, difficult, a predator, someone who is disabled that is highly accomplished, or that they only want to be “cured”. This perpetuates negative, harmful stereotypes and creates barriers for social progress for many disability communities.
For some who live with disabilities, internalised ableism can have a devastating impact on their lives in every way and lead to the belief that being non-disabled is preferable.
accessibility
ACCESSIBILITY: The elimination of physical, communications, digital and all other barriers that block or exclude disabled people. (Source: Gregory Mansfield @GHMansfield on Twitter)
The concept of accessibility is often boiled down to just ramps into buildings, or accessible websites, but it encompasses so much more.
Every single aspect of life has the opportunity to be made more accessible, from digital accessibility to employment, to physical access into shops, financial institutions, education.
As disability inclusion advocate Edmund Asiedu @asiedu.edmund says: “Creating access for people with disabilities means we are seen, we are included, we matter.”
Yet in a world where new products and services are being designed from scratch every day, accessibility is still an afterthought rather than the default.
For example, technology often excludes the experiences and feedback of disabled people in the process of being designed, with non-disabled people often making assumptions about accessibility needs.
One consequence of this type of exclusion is that it puts the burden on disabled people to take the extra steps to dig out accessibility functions or settings (if those exist) in the final product. This is a form of ableism that can easily be prevented by including accessibility needs at the foundation, rather than as an add-on or based on assumption.
Accessibility for all is just that - accessibility for disabled as well as non-disabled people. All of society can benefit from this form of inclusivity. Therefore non-disabled people can also advocate for inclusive accessibility and not leave it up to disability communities to have to speak up.
neurodiversity
The term ‘neurodiversity’ was coined in 1998 Australian sociologist Judy Singer, to describe differences in the human brain when it comes to sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental and physical functions.
Someone whose brain functions in ways that diverge from dominant societal standards of ‘typical’ might be described as neurodivergent. Neurodivergence includes conditions like Dyslexia, Autism, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Dyspraxia and other neurological conditions. Many of these exist on a spectrum, so no two people are the same even if they have the same label, and even one person’s experience can vary from day to day.
The neurodiversity movement adopts the social model of disability, which views societal barriers as the main contributing factor that disables people. In this light, neurodivergent or neurodevelopmental disorders are something to be recognised and respected rather than stigmatised, marginalised or seen as ‘needing to be cured’.
According to entrepreneur and writer @whitney_iles, the research around neurodiversity uses a predominantly male lens. This can present additional barriers for cis-girls and women, trans and non-binary people, and Black, indigenous and people of colour, as well as those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, particularly in not being supported or diagnosed, and having to develop coping mechanisms.
We must also acknowledge that not all neurodivergent people identify as disabled. As with any label, the most respectful way to describe someone who might be neurodivergent is to ask their preference and follow their lead.
Part of our mission at The Other Box is to educate as many people as possible in the language of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). On all our social channels, we share weekly words and their definitions, with a different theme each month.
These terms are a taster and have been taken from our Diversity Dictionary™ module in our Know Your Bias™ course. If you'd like to learn more, check out our courses page and fill in the contact form.
Is there a theme you’d like to see covered in Diversity Dictionary? Let us know! Our work is co-created by our community to work towards creating a world that is more inclusive and safe for everyone.
Words by Roshni Goyate
Header image by Bahador on Unsplash