eSCAping Type 1

* I hate giving them any sort of publicity, but its correlation can’t be ignored, so scroll to the bottom to see part of the @humansofny Instagram post, some comments, & my thoughts.

---

Ableism, very simply, is “discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.”

An able-bodied person is, basically, anyone without a physical or mental handicap that hinders their ability to do certain things. Remember, a wheelchair is not the one-and-only sign of disability; someone can look “normal” and not be able-bodied. (Welcome to the world of invisible illnesses!)

Ableism is the idea that people who are defined by their disabilities are inferior to the non-disabled. It instills the belief that accessibility is optional. That special needs are called “special” for a reason. That anything different is difficult and wrong.

And it’s justified by stereotypes; by the presumption that people with handicaps can’t think or speak for themselves, that wheelchair users also have an intellectual disability, that if someone can’t do something, it’s fine because they must not want to do it.

 

When it comes down to it, ABLEISM is what denies experiences and opportunities to certain people based entirely on their perceived ability.

 

 

You’re around it every day, but you probably don’t notice it. 

It’s steps of any height/size/quantity without handrails or ramps, uneven and cracked sidewalks, doors without button openers, bathrooms without designated stalls. It’s able-bodied people parking in handicap spots “because they just have to run in real quick!” or scoffing at accessibility tools while calling them “lazy,” or asking someone in a wheelchair, “What’s WRONG with you?”

I mean, it’s ok if you didn’t acknowledge any of that before right now – if it doesn’t affect you, why be concerned with it? I hadn’t even heard the word “ableism” till just a few years ago. None of those things seem like a big deal until they literally impact your entire world.

Do you know how many restaurants I haven’t been able to go to because there are steps without ramps inside? Or how many drinks I’ve spilled because “straws are bad for the environment”? Or how I have to wait to go to the bathroom till I get home since public accessible restrooms are a lot harder to find than you think?

But the world works for able-bodied folks. I’m just one person. It’s fine.

For the record, it sucks that it took a global pandemic for us to finally get some of the services we’ve been begging for. 

For years people with disabilities were denied the chance to even have a job or attend school if they couldn’t physically get there. Using the internet to foster accessibility was way too inconvenient and “unnecessary” for companies to handle. But as soon as able-bodied people had to quarantine and needed online ordering options, or widespread food delivery, or remote work opportunities, it was all easily done overnight.

Like I said, the world works for able-bodied folks. It’s fine.

To be fair, Americans with disabilities weren’t even guaranteed certain civil rights until 1990. And still, many places don’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act  “requirements” anyway.

Like how there must be a clear, 36”-wide path through every public building with access to 32”-wide doorways with closed-fist-operable handles. Or how ramps longer than 6’ must be “non-slip” and have “sturdy” handrails on both sides that are between 32”-38” high. And all alarms must have both a visual and audible component. 

There are SO MANY governmental requirements I wanted to include here but didn’t, so PLEASE click on and skim through the checklist below:

Remember, having a ramp at the entrance does not necessarily make a place ADA-compliant. (Though Amazon sells portable, folding ramps that really every business should have.) And, for the record “it’s accessible if you have someone to help you” IS NOT A THING.

Of course, there are other guidelines surrounding those modifications, specifically addressing costs, construction dates, pre-existing barriers, etc. And, when it comes down to it, the ADA’s mandates protecting the livelihood of handicapped people are often seen as more important than building codes.

But now that you’re aware, you can be a better ally!

But what about internalized ableism? When someone with a disability believes all that negativity about themself?

It’s easy to think, “I don’t need to go out; it’s a lot less stress for everyone else if I just stay home. They’re normal, so they deserve to have fun. Life is easier for them so they should be happier than I am. I might not even be able to get in the building anyway, so I’m clearly not wanted there…” or “My house being dirty is my fault. I’m bad at being an adult. I’m lazy for spending so much time in bed. I’m not worth spending money on a new shower – the slippery tub isn’t the problem, I am…” or even “I’m young so I don’t need a mobility device. Wheelchairs are for disabled people – I don’t want people to see me as that…”

Internalized ableism is very common, especially because we’re living in an era of constant comparison either with our former selves (thanks, progressive diseases) or every other person in the world (thanks, social media).

But I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again – I can’t control this medical condition, but I can control my outlook on it … if you don’t like something you can’t control, change your mindset … a lot of times that’s the only thing you can change, so if you can’t change anything else, change that!

So, before trying to tackle systemic ableism, start by analyzing your own thoughts. What is your personal view of people with disabilities? Especially in relation to able-bodied people? Which “group” do you currently see yourself in?

And then go ahead and boycott public places without ramps. It’s ok, they’re apparently fine with people not getting in their building anyway.

 

---

*

Ok, so, as I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram the other night, I came across this post:

 

Right away, it didn’t sit well with me. BUT I had very recently written a (this) blog post about ableism and was honestly pretty proud & excited to publish it, sooooo I figured that mindset was just tainting my reaction.

And then I read the comments:

 

 

There are hundreds of comments similar to the ones above, which is exactly why I knew I had to include it here. Ableism is very real, very harmful, and very preventable. And it can show up in even the most unlikely of places, too.

But by increasing awareness & spreading knowledge (like by simply sharing this blog post), we can AT LEAST understand why to avoid using and promoting certain ableist language… YOU can help, you just have to know how.