What is Ableism?

Discrimination in favor of non-disabled people. It is based on an assumption that the physical, cognitive, and sensory differences of disabled people are deficits. It is rooted in the medical model of disability that assumes that disabled people need to be fixed.

Ableism Looks Like

• Lack of compliance with disability rights laws like the ADA. 

• Segregating students with disabilities into separate schools. 

• The use of restraint or seclusion as a means of controlling students with disabilities. 

• Segregating adults and children with disabilities in institutions.

• Dismissing hate speech against disabled students. 

Ableism ALSO Looks Like

• Giving inaccessible documents to learning-disabled students.

• Assuming that disabled students are lazy, unintelligent, or work-avoidant because they didn't complete an assignment.

• Not considering multiple modes of delivery of your instruction.

• Not considering multiple modes of receiving assignments. 

• Not attending IEP meetings due to lack of compensation, or that it's outside contract hours.

Examples of Different Modes 

• Providing audio directions in addition to print

• Providing video demonstration in addition to lecture.

• Allowing students to demonstrate understanding in ways that don't cause disabled students anxiety and stress.

• Providing extra time and/or more explicit directions for tasks and assignments.

 ✔Equity  ✔Inclusion  ✔Neurodiversity  ✔Disability