y

Ableism
r
a n "Discrimination in favour of able-bodied people; prejudice against or
i n
o tio
c t i disregard of the needs of disabled people" (OED).
Di e n
D c "[T]he belief that it is better or superior not to have a disability than to have one and that
e c i it is better to do things in the way that nondisabled people do. Although schools often
S p advocate multiculturalism and acceptance of differences, disability and ableism are
o l - ex t
o
h Con t overlooked in this advocacy" (Storey 2007).
Sc n Many adult learners have struggled in school for years, often because of a learning
t i o
u c a disability or other challenge (which may remain undiagnosed). Instead of focusing on
E d ext what students should be able to do, focus instead on determining what they can do,
u l t nt
d
A C o and then provide appropriate support to help them achieve curriculum standards.

Examples of
Ableist Langauge
Suggested Language
for referring to
people with disabilities

a student has a disability

Blind persons with autism/autism spectrum disorder
Crazy adult learners with an intellectual disability
Crippled an individual uses a wheelchair
it's okay to say a person is deaf (if they are actually deaf)
What can I do?
Deaf
Dumb
Insane when in doubt, ask (either the person or someone who
Lame advocates for them)
Maniac
Psycho 1. Stop using ableist la and don't forget, sometimes it's just
Retarded
2. Organize PD training n gu a ge none of your darn business!
Spaz
3. Build awareness into f o r staff
lessons person-first language:
It's a matter of

RESPECT

Good to know . . .

The "Accessible Icon Project"

This is called the "Universal has proposed a new symbol,
Symbol for Access" (and not a which many find empowering
"handicapped sticker/sign"); it for its suggestions of strength
denotes where adaptations and mobility -- it has already
have been made to improve been adopted by certain
access organizations and cities.