AODA and Human Rights Code: Ableism

Equity and Inclusion Office McMaster University

11 Mar 202203:21

Summary

TLDRAbleism refers to societal attitudes and systems that discriminate against people with disabilities, seeing them as less capable or valuable than non-disabled individuals. These biases can be conscious or unconscious and are often ingrained in policies, practices, and environments, leading to exclusion. Examples include inaccessible physical spaces and the use of jargon that excludes those unfamiliar with certain terms. However, ableism is not inevitable—everyone can contribute to creating a more inclusive society by valuing the potential of all individuals, both disabled and non-disabled.

Takeaways

💡 Ableism refers to societal attitudes that limit the potential of people with disabilities, viewing them as less worthy or capable.
👥 People with disabilities are often seen as less able to contribute or participate in society, similar to how racism, sexism, or ageism functions.
🧠 Ableism can be conscious or unconscious, and it is often ingrained into our systems, policies, beliefs, and culture.
🏛️ Society typically considers non-disabled people as 'normal,' making anything different seem 'abnormal,' which creates exclusion.
🚫 Designing social and physical environments with only non-disabled people in mind leads to inaccessible spaces for people with disabilities.
🚪 Common examples of ableism include stairs in buildings and assuming everyone uses vision to navigate the world, which excludes others.
💬 The use of jargon or specialized language in classrooms, workplaces, or conversations can exclude people who don't understand those terms.
🏫 Ableist beliefs have contributed to lower education, employment, and income rates among disabled people, leading to more precarious living situations.
🌍 Ableism is not inevitable—there are many actions we can take to recognize everyone's potential, facilitate access, and promote inclusion.
📞 Resources for promoting accessibility are available through McMaster's accessibility office and equity inclusion office.

Q & A

What is ableism?
-Ableism refers to negative attitudes in society that limit the potential of people with disabilities, often viewing them as less worthy or capable than non-disabled people.
How is ableism similar to other forms of discrimination?
-Ableism is comparable to racism, sexism, or ageism as it is a belief system that treats certain groups as inferior. In this case, it targets individuals with disabilities.
Is ableism always intentional?
-No, ableism can be either conscious or unconscious, and it can be intended or unintended. It's often ingrained in societal systems, policies, and attitudes.
How does society often treat non-disabled people compared to disabled people?
-Society tends to see non-disabled people as the standard or 'normal,' while those with disabilities are considered 'different' or 'abnormal,' leading to their exclusion.
What are some common examples of ableism in physical spaces?
-One example is designing buildings with stairs but no ramps, assuming all people can walk. Another is relying on vision for orientation, excluding people who are blind.
How can ableism manifest in communication settings, such as classrooms or workplaces?
-Using jargon or specialized vocabulary can exclude people unfamiliar with these terms, automatically limiting their participation in discussions.
What is the impact of negative beliefs about people with disabilities?
-Negative beliefs can lead to discriminatory policies, practices, and behaviors, such as limiting access to education and employment for people with disabilities.
How does ableism affect employment and income for disabled individuals?
-Ableism contributes to lower education and employment rates for disabled people, which in turn leads to lower income and more precarious housing situations.
Is ableism unavoidable in society?
-No, ableism is not inevitable. There are many actions people can take to respect the dignity and worth of both disabled and non-disabled individuals.
How can people work to promote accessibility and inclusion?
-People can promote accessibility by recognizing everyone's potential, eliminating barriers, and ensuring access to opportunities for all. Resources are available through organizations like McMaster University’s accessibility office.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Introduction to Ableism

This paragraph defines ableism, describing it as a belief system similar to racism, sexism, or ageism. It explains how ableism manifests in society through negative attitudes that diminish the value and potential of people with disabilities. It highlights that ableism may be conscious or unconscious, and often embedded in societal policies, systems, and cultural norms.

🚧 Society's Perspective on Disability

Ableism is most apparent in a society where non-disabled people are considered the norm, and anything different is labeled as abnormal. The paragraph emphasizes that this belief system limits opportunities for disabled individuals and reduces their inclusion in various spaces, particularly when physical and social environments are designed with only non-disabled people in mind.

🏢 Inaccessibility in Physical Spaces

This section discusses how societal assumptions, such as the idea that everyone orients themselves through vision or can use stairs, lead to the creation of inaccessible environments. Such design choices exclude disabled individuals, prioritizing non-disabled people and reinforcing ableism in physical spaces.

🗣️ Exclusion Through Language

The paragraph explains how using jargon or specialized vocabulary in classrooms, workplaces, or daily conversations can exclude individuals who are unfamiliar with such terms. It suggests using plain language to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can participate and feel included.

📉 Barriers to Education and Employment

This section explores how negative societal beliefs about disability result in discriminatory policies and practices. It highlights the historical and ongoing marginalization of disabled people, which has created significant barriers to accessing education, employment, and economic stability, ultimately leading to housing insecurity for many.

🌈 Breaking the Cycle of Ableism

The final paragraph conveys a hopeful message, explaining that ableism is not inevitable. It encourages valuing and respecting the worth and dignity of both disabled and non-disabled individuals. The paragraph calls for recognizing everyone's potential and facilitating equal access to opportunities and community inclusion.

🔗 Accessibility Resources

This section provides resources for promoting accessibility, including contact information for McMaster University’s accessibility office, a link to their website, and emails for specific inquiries related to human rights and accessibility support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ableism

Ableism refers to the discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities. It involves negative attitudes and beliefs that view individuals with disabilities as less worthy, capable, or valuable than non-disabled people. The video compares ableism to other forms of discrimination, such as racism and sexism, and highlights its impact on limiting opportunities and participation for disabled individuals.

💡Disabilities

Disabilities encompass physical, mental, or sensory conditions that may limit a person's ability to perform certain tasks or engage in certain activities. The video emphasizes that people with disabilities are often unfairly judged and marginalized due to ableist attitudes, which reduces their opportunities to participate fully in society.

💡Inaccessible spaces

Inaccessible spaces are environments that are not designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Examples include buildings with stairs but no ramps, or materials that require vision to understand. The video mentions that these spaces exclude people with disabilities, reinforcing their marginalization and reducing their participation in society.

💡Non-disabled

Non-disabled refers to individuals who do not have a disability. In the video, non-disabled people are presented as the default or 'normal' in society, leading to the exclusion of disabled individuals from environments and opportunities that are designed without their needs in mind.

💡Discriminatory policies

Discriminatory policies are rules or regulations that unfairly disadvantage certain groups, including people with disabilities. The video explains how historical and ongoing ableism has led to policies that restrict disabled people’s access to education, employment, and other opportunities, which perpetuates inequality.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion refers to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, is able to participate fully in society. The video advocates for a more inclusive society where environments, conversations, and opportunities are designed to be accessible to all individuals, not just the non-disabled.

💡Barriers

Barriers are obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from accessing the same opportunities and services as non-disabled individuals. The video discusses both physical barriers, like inaccessible buildings, and social barriers, like discriminatory attitudes, that limit the participation of disabled individuals in society.

💡Education and employment

Education and employment are key areas where people with disabilities face significant challenges due to ableism. The video highlights that disabled individuals are more likely to have lower educational attainment, lower employment rates, and lower incomes, contributing to further marginalization and precarious living situations.

💡Accessible communication

Accessible communication involves making information understandable and available to everyone, regardless of their ability to process it through traditional means. The video suggests avoiding jargon or specialized language in conversations to ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from discussions, promoting inclusivity.

💡Respect and dignity

Respect and dignity are central to creating an inclusive society where all people, including those with disabilities, are valued. The video calls for recognizing the worth and potential of every individual, regardless of their abilities, to ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities and is treated with respect.

Highlights

Ableism refers to negative attitudes in society that limit the potential of people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are often viewed as being less worthy of respect, consideration, and contribution.

Ableism can be compared to belief systems like racism, sexism, or ageism.

Ableism may be conscious or unconscious, intended or unintended, and ingrained into society's systems, policies, and culture.

Non-disabled people are seen as normal, while anything different is considered abnormal in ableist societies.

Ableism can limit opportunities for people with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in communities.

Social and physical environments are often designed with non-disabled people in mind, leading to the creation of inaccessible spaces.

Buildings designed with stairs and environments assuming vision as the primary sense exclude disabled individuals.

Using jargon or specialized vocabulary in everyday conversation can exclude people unfamiliar with these terms.

Inclusive communication involves speaking plainly so that everyone can understand and feel included.

Negative beliefs about disabled people can lead to discriminatory policies and practices.

Disabled people experience lower education rates, lower employment rates, and lower income rates.

Marginalization results in barriers to accessing education, employment, and more precarious housing situations.

Ableism isn't inevitable; valuing the dignity and worth of all people, disabled and non-disabled, can reduce its impact.

Promoting accessibility can create more inclusive environments and help facilitate everyone's potential and contributions.