Prejudice and Discrimination: Ableism
America runs on capitalism. In order to succeed, one must be able to work and produce something that is beneficial to the community. To be disabled, either mentally or physically, is to be automatically considered a detriment to society. The discrimination against people who are disabled is known as ableism, and although some do not realize it, ableism has become a daily occurrence. Ableism has a negative societal stigma and it affects the work, school, and social lives of people with disabilities.
Ableism is similar to the many other forms of discrimination; it is when people with a mental or physical disability are seen as “ … less worthy of respect and consideration, less able to contribute and participate, …show more content…
In the workplace, “ There is a pervasive perception that those of us with mental illness are broken, while people with a physical condition -- particularly, a visible one -- should receive a more sensitive and flexible response (although often, those responses are also inadequate).” (Klabusich).There were 25,165 charges of disability discrimination filed in 2010, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Health Research Funding). The vast amount of people who have been discriminated against shows how we have normalized ableism in the workplace. Acts of discrimination against people with disabilities have a negative impact on how their lives are lived, and further add to the stigma that they cannot perform as well as non-disabled people.
Along with the ableism in the workplace, there are instances of ableism in the school setting. Just as the company buildings are required to follow ADA standards, school buildings must as well. Unfortunately, many lack the funding to be able to install elevators for students with wheelchairs or crutches, and while this inability to accommodate for students is not solely the fault of the individual school, it shows the inherent ableism in the education …show more content…
Bringing awareness to ableism can help end the negative stigma towards disabled people. Many places, especially schools, have programs that help integrate people with and without disabilities to help show that the stereotypes are not true. Even without a school or other organization, one could reach out and make an effort against ableism, by simply being aware of their everyday actions. Making the workplace more inclusive and compatible, giving schools the funding they need for elevators and special education programs, and simply being more sociable are all ways the negative stigma of ableism can be combated. Ableism occurs far too often in the capitalist society of America, and those with disabilities should not be discriminated against, but accepted as members of society, who have just as much value as a person without a
America runs on capitalism. In order to succeed, one must be able to work and produce something that is beneficial to the community. To be disabled, either mentally or physically, is to be automatically considered a detriment to society. The discrimination against people who are disabled is known as ableism, and although some do not realize it, ableism has become a daily occurrence. Ableism has a negative societal stigma and it affects the work, school, and social lives of people with disabilities.
Ableism is similar to the many other forms of discrimination; it is when people with a mental or physical disability are seen as “ … less worthy of respect and consideration, less able to contribute and participate, …show more content…
In the workplace, “ There is a pervasive perception that those of us with mental illness are broken, while people with a physical condition -- particularly, a visible one -- should receive a more sensitive and flexible response (although often, those responses are also inadequate).” (Klabusich).There were 25,165 charges of disability discrimination filed in 2010, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Health Research Funding). The vast amount of people who have been discriminated against shows how we have normalized ableism in the workplace. Acts of discrimination against people with disabilities have a negative impact on how their lives are lived, and further add to the stigma that they cannot perform as well as non-disabled people.
Along with the ableism in the workplace, there are instances of ableism in the school setting. Just as the company buildings are required to follow ADA standards, school buildings must as well. Unfortunately, many lack the funding to be able to install elevators for students with wheelchairs or crutches, and while this inability to accommodate for students is not solely the fault of the individual school, it shows the inherent ableism in the education …show more content…
Bringing awareness to ableism can help end the negative stigma towards disabled people. Many places, especially schools, have programs that help integrate people with and without disabilities to help show that the stereotypes are not true. Even without a school or other organization, one could reach out and make an effort against ableism, by simply being aware of their everyday actions. Making the workplace more inclusive and compatible, giving schools the funding they need for elevators and special education programs, and simply being more sociable are all ways the negative stigma of ableism can be combated. Ableism occurs far too often in the capitalist society of America, and those with disabilities should not be discriminated against, but accepted as members of society, who have just as much value as a person without a