"What went wrong with you?”
And that is how strangers often start a conversation with
me. How do I usually respond? With a broad smile and “It’s a long story.”
There is a type of discrimination that goes unnoticed – ableism. Though I
vaguely recognized the term I never paid attention to its meaning. It is a bias
– a presumption, and discrimination towards people living with disabilities. It
suggests that “typical abilities” are superior and marginalize
individuals with disabilities; limiting access to certain rights and basic
human needs.
Ableism is
often overlooked and goes unchallenged because of its deep-rootedness. These
days it may not appear in regular conversations or actions but surfaces with
subtle messages of “no way, do not include”, “don’t mind, but not you”;
and “stay in the background please, the stage is not yours”.
When
we unpack the word “disability” it immediately brings to mind people
with noticeable
physical conditions. It is a condition that causes difficulty
for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access in society. The sentiment
that the disabled deserve pity but need not be seen or heard makes disability a
bad thing. It is something to be set right for someone to be acceptable.
As a
child, people stared at me as though I was an alien. Some pitied me while
others had grave concerns about my future. A harmless jibe, often
unintentional, that dismisses someone with a disability is an obvious form
of ableism. Insensitive and unkind, ableism begins
with the failure to acknowledge that the disabled exist regardless of their
condition.
Here are the kinds of ableism I have experienced. The list
is not exhaustive, but it captures the basics.
1. I was conditioned
to believe that people with disabilities have less value and worth
2. While a cure or relief from pain would have been
awesome, constantly assuming that I need to be “healed” or “can overcome”
was and is unnecessary.
3. Suggesting that I am “inspirational” for
handling routine activities and daily tasks.
4. Speculating about my “limited” life and
presuming I can’t do much.
5. Suggesting that I am “less normal” and “less
healthy”!!
6. Being asked extremely "intrusive questions" about my personal life.
7. Letting my crooked foot decide my "professional competence."
Some
of us need adjustments and accommodation in everyday life; but here’s something
to consider- if wearing glasses, braces, and even false eyelashes is deemed
acceptable; normalize funny shoes and hearing aids.
For
most of us living with a disability, the challenge itself has far fewer
consequences on the quality of our lives than all the discrimination we face.
Pitying and making assumptions about our lives and abilities won’t help. Challenging
the assumptions can help us replace them with inclusivity,
acceptance, and respect.
So
recognize that
people with disabilities are, in fact,
people — equal to
nondisabled people in every way and worthy of the same respect. This makes a
good first step toward preventing
ableism. It may sound too basic
but the main factor driving ableism is the
thought that people
with disabilities are somehow “less.”
Although ableism is woven into the fabric of society, it’s
possible to mend the pattern and create a more inclusive future. Ableism
must be ended by calling it out just like other forms of discrimination. Voice
your concerns and challenge them instead of merely trying to fix the
disabled.
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