Ableism
Ableism refers to the discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities, conveying the notion that they are less valuable than those who are "able-bodied." Despite significant advancements in legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which legally protects the rights of disabled individuals, ableism persists in various forms within society. Historically, disabled individuals faced severe stigma and exclusion, often being segregated or institutionalized. The disability rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s, advocating for equal opportunities and access, inspired by other civil rights movements. Key legislation over the years, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990, has sought to improve the lives of people with disabilities in areas such as education and employment. Despite these efforts, statistical evidence indicates that individuals with disabilities still experience higher unemployment rates and are often treated as inferior in the workplace. Cultural perceptions often lead to patronizing attitudes and social exclusion, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the disabled community. As healthcare technology evolves, the number of individuals with disabilities is rising, underscoring the necessity for continued advocacy and societal change.
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Ableism
Ableism is the discrimination of people with disabilities. Ableism sends a message that disabled individuals are of lesser value than "able-bodied" individuals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." While some people are born with disabilities, others become disabled from a sickness, disease, or an accident. According to US Census Bureau estimates in 2024, more than 82 million Americans reported having a disability in 2022. While they have made strides in terms of equal access to workplaces and public institutions, people with disabilities still face ableism in society.
Brief History
Ableism has existed for centuries, although the term was likely coined in the 1980s. In the 1800s, people thought disabled individuals were abnormal and shameful, and sought to keep them out of sight. Most disabled persons were segregated from society, and some were forcibly committed to institutions and asylums. Disabled individuals who were fortunate enough to live in their own homes could not leave; they could not use public transportation or work in office buildings and other workplaces with stairs. Unemployment left many people with disabilities impoverished; some had to panhandle for survival.
Disabled individuals had to combat ableism from the government as well. Some states had laws prohibiting disabled persons from marrying or having children. Some disabled individuals were forced to undergo sterilization, a medical procedure that prevents them from having children.
The situation improved somewhat during World War I (1914–1918) when thousands of disabled veterans returned to the United States. Some were blind or deaf. Many were in wheelchairs. They demanded help from the government in exchange for having served their country. Rehabilitation, government assistance, and advances in technology helped disabled veterans and other people with disabilities become more self-sufficient.
Veterans of World War II (1939–1945) not only demanded help from their government but also garnered public support for better treatment of those with disabilities. Ableism lessened, and Congress passed laws to help the disabled enter or re-enter the workforce.
The 1960s is often considered the beginning of the disability rights movement. Inspired by the success of African Americans during the civil rights movement, people with disabilities began to fight for legal protection against discrimination; they wanted mandatory equal access and equal opportunities.
In 1962, Ed Roberts, a severely disabled student, made national headlines when he was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley. Roberts had contracted polio when he was fourteen and was left paralyzed from the neck down. After attending a local college for two years, Roberts applied to the University of California. However, the university was unaware of Roberts's disability when it accepted him. It later refused to admit him because the respirator he needed to breathe would not fit in a dorm room. Roberts fought against this discrimination and was eventually admitted. Roberts started a program to assist disabled students while attending the university. He also became a leader in the disability rights movement.
In the 1970s, important legislation was passed to help people with disabilities. This legislation included the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which gave disabled persons equal opportunity for employment in the federal government and federally funded programs. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in 1975 to give children with disabilities the right to attend mainstream schools. The name of this act was changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990. Also included in IDEA was a requirement for children with disabilities to receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to ensure that the child's needs were being met in school.
Perhaps the most important legislation was the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was passed in 1990. The ADA ensured that people with disabilities had equal access to employment opportunities and public places such as restaurants and stores. The act also ensured that people with disabilities had equal access to public transportation and telecommunications. Under the ADA, businesses were required to make accommodations for persons with disabilities. For example, they might have to modify work equipment for a disabled individual.
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) amended the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, mainly to broaden the definition of disability to increase the number of individuals covered by the act. It also aimed to better protect employees with disabilities.
Impact
The US Census Bureau estimated that more than 82 million Americans had a disability in 2022, such as a spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, muscular dystrophy, or depression. As technology in health care continues to improve, disabilities that were once fatal are becoming chronic and manageable, increasing the number of persons with disabilities.
Despite legal protection offered under legislation such as the ADA, people with disabilities still face discrimination in society. They must contend with others feeling sorry for them, being fearful of their condition and avoiding them, patronizing them for being able to deal with the disability, and treating them as if they are a charity case.
Albeism is especially common in the workplace. Many report being treated as inferior in the workplace even though they have the necessary skills to do their job. They may not be given the opportunity to complete a task because a supervisor thinks they are unable to do so.
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) conducted a study, published in 2015, that tested the effects of ableism on employment. They submitted more than six thousand fake applications to junior and senior positions at accounting firms. In their cover letters, along with mentioning that they could still perform their job, one-third of the fake applicants disclosed that they had Asperger's syndrome, and one-third mentioned having a spinal cord injury. The last third of the fake applicants did not mention having a disability. Fake applicants without disabilities were 26 percent more likely to have an employer express interest than those with disabilities.
In 2023, 22.5 percent of Americans with a disability were employed, compared to 65.8 percent of Americans without a disability. The unemployment rate for workers with disabilities was 7.2 percent, more than twice that of those without disabilities. About 29 percent of US workers with disabilities had only part-time jobs, compared to 16 percent for those with no disability.
Bibliography
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"A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement." ADL, Anti-Defamation League, 22 Nov. 2024, www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/disability-rights-movement. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
“CDC Data Shows Over 70 Million U.S. Adults Reported Having a Disability.” CDC Newsroom, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 July 2024, www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0716-Adult-disability.html. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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"First There Was Racism and Sexism, Now There's Ableism." BBC, 16 June 2014, www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-27840472. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
“Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics — 2023.” USDL-24-0349, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 22 Feb. 2024, www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
US Census Bureau. “Disability Characteristics.” American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1810, 2022, data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1810. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.