“Ableism is a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’ in one form or the other. Ableism is intertwined in our culture, due to many limiting beliefs about what disability does or does not mean, how able-bodied people learn to treat people with disabilities, and how we are often not included at the table for key decisions.” – Center for Disability Rights

Ableism, like other forms of structural oppression, can come in the form of individual beliefs and practices (“This person is ableist” or “this statement is ableist”) or systems (“This building is not accessible,” “only providing services to survivors without _ disability is ableist,” or “putting the burden on disabled individuals to provide their own accommodations is ableist”). Like all forms of oppression, we can unintentionally participate in ableist beliefs and practices, can work to unlearn them, and can make intentional repair and steps toward accessibility and inclusion.

Resources: Center for Disability Rights