Uncovering ableism in everyday language | Valois J. Vera | TEDxTWU

Ableism and Language - Ableism is defined as social prejudice and discrimination against disabled people, classifying them as inferior and creating a standard of "normal" [6] - Ableism manifests in physical, attitudinal, and social barriers, framing disability as pity, less than, or inspirational (inspiration porn) [7] - Negative language and ableist ideas can be internalized by people with disabilities, leading to low self-esteem and a distorted self-image [10] - Lateral ableism involves bias against other people with disabilities, often unintentionally overlooking their specific needs [11][12][13] Evolution of Disability Language - There has been a shift from the medical model of disability (focus on illness and treatment) to the social model (focus on personhood and rights) and the cultural model (focus on disability identity and justice) [16][17] - Two ideologies of language exist within the disability community: person-first language (a person with a disability) and identity-first language (disabled person) [17][18][19] Impact of Language - Words can have a significant impact, causing pain and influencing how individuals and groups, especially people with disabilities, are viewed [3][5] - Antiquated and stereotypical terms like "handicapped," "crippled," and "special needs" are not representative of disability as a culture [13][14][15] - During the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities and chronic illnesses were sometimes seen as disposable, highlighting ableism as eugenics [8][9][10]