Essay On Ableism

Improved Essays
Introduction
The controversies over ableism are an ongoing topic that our society must continually address in order to meet the needs of all people. Ableism is defined as discrimination or acts of prejudices against specific groups or individuals with disabilities (Adams, etl. 2013, pg. 297). This encompasses any person who experiences oppression due to any physical, intellectual, mental, or emotional disorder they possess (Levy, 2015). Overtime, we have seen a dramatic shift in the way our society addresses individuals with these types of impairments. Previously, people with disabilities were viewed as being inadequate or incapable or achieving certain statuses (Adams, etl. 2013, pg. 297). They were often disregarded and slighted by other
…show more content…
I have developed compassion through adversities experienced personally and knowledge gained from observing family members and struggles they have encountered. This knowledge has allowed me to have an empathetic approach when working with children and families who are targets due to their statuses. Ableism can affect individuals at any age and can especially have a significant impact on children. The environment and situation that a person is born into attributes to what becomes that person’s norm. Children are very impressionable and it has been my experience that children are typically very similar to their parents. Even though children tend to be products of their environment, it is possible to break the cycle. Being in a position of leadership, I find it imperative to embrace the potential to make a difference in the life of others. Positively influencing one person can leave a lifelong lasting impression. By focusing on one’s abilities rather than their disabilities, and with the right combination of encouragement, support, and guidance, is a motivator for growth. It is my belief that a person can become and accomplish anything he or she dreams with the proper supports and self-intrinsic qualities to be determined and resilient. Taking personal responsibility for the cards life has dealt is a big factor. Ultimately, it has to come from

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    According to the American Community Survey, “The overall rate of people with disabilities in the US population in 2015 was 12.6%” (2). Although this percentage may seem insignificant, that number translates to well over millions of citizens who have disabilities. Considering this, everyone is likely to encounter a person with a disability at some point in their lives, so it is important that they are aware of how to be inclusive and interact with them. They may be people, but the society has discriminated against them in the past. The good news is that there has been progress because of the awareness that has been brought to the issues.…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Those who are different seem to have lower expectations. Many of those disabled children weren’t meant to live past birth, but yet they defied expectation and achieved their goals. This is because of their will, mental strength, determination, and pride. This is similar to the story of Doodle. On the surface, Doodle may only appear as a small, fragile boy, but on the inside he is great and strong.…

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1963,there was lots of discrimination and segregation throughout the different states. People treated other people poorly. By poorly i mean handicaps,social classes,and races. The 1960’s were a historical decade for the United States Of America To begin with,in the book “The Watson’s Go To Birmingham” people often treat handicap people poorly.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    When people are able to overlook the stereotypes and a true understanding of individuals with disabilities is established, discrimination can…

    • 1779 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Edward Bloor's Tangerine

    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Morgan Freeman once said, “Attacking people with disabilities is the lowest power I can think of .” Everyone is unique and has their own differences. One difference in some people is a disability. A disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. People think that those who have disabilities are dumb and deaf.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ableism against disabled veterans is a big problem in the United States. “In 2012, the U.S. had 3.6 million Veterans with a service connected disability,”. A majority of these veterans can’t get jobs due to ableism and the employers’ belief that they are not able to do the same quality of work as the average Joe. This belief is false in some cases and true in others. For example, a man in a wheel chair cannot have the same job expectations as a man who is not physically disabled.…

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Ableism can be defined by Campbell (2008) who argues ableism is connected with the production of ableness which refers to the perfect body by default (p.153). Campbell (2008) also argues that “the creation of a neologism that suggests a falling away from ableness that is disability (p.153). Ableism causes social marginalization and exclusion to those who do not conform to societies ablest norms (Dhamoon, 2009, p.113). The concept of ableism can be shown in the two readings the first one is “Regulating Difference: Accounts of Deaf and Transsexual Difference” from Identity/Difference Politics written by Rita Dhamoon. The second article is written by Judith Butler called “Doing Justice to Someone: Sex Reassignments and Allegories of Transsexuality.…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Keith Jones, another individual with disabilities would go on to share a very interesting viewpoint of the education system. As an African-American, Keith described many of the unique situations he went through in his life related to his disability. This brought to light another issue where individuals with disabilities are often discriminated against by not only their disability, but also through other areas easily targeted by prejudice. Keith’s story did indeed raise another even deeper question for the audience, how do we provide an equal and positive educational experience for those with disabilities while also keeping in mind many of the already present prejudices within the world we live in? Is there a way we can help dispel many of these already horrific prejudices while also providing the best educational experience for everyone?…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Universal Design

    • 2125 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The educational system all over the country falls victim to ableist segregation as well. As the New York case shows, elementary schools fall victim to ableism, but not even in the university setting does ableism cease to prevail. In the university setting, too often teachers are denied accessibility and accommodations for their impairment based on how the university categorizes that particular impairment (Kerschbaum 37). ‘Special’ education poses a more troubling issue. Under the medical model of disability, the conflation of ableism, intellectual in particular, and other identity factors make labelling and segregating the educational system, especially ‘special’ education, seem natural and legitimate (Reid and Knight 18).…

    • 2125 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Disability Movement Essay

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout many years of history, those with disabilities were not always treated fairly or given equal opportunity. Activists around the world have worked together to achieve goals such as increased access to all types of transportation and a safer day to day environment. Equal opportunities in employment and education have been a big part of their efforts too. For many years, children with disabilities were many times segregated and not given an equal opportunity for a chance to learn and succeed in school. A disability should not limit a person’s choice to improve themselves and their intellectual capabilities.…

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Have you ever been discriminated by something you have no control of, your own race. Many people face different types of discrimination on a daily, but race discrimination is onto a whole other level. In “Discrimination in the 21st Century”, by Victoria Johnson, the author talks about discrimination towards people in wheelchairs. Johnson goes on describing her personal experiences because she herself uses an electrical wheelchair. Johnson’s reasoning is that many people face issues with personal relationships, transportation options, and public venues.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Ableism In The Workplace

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Ableism is the fact that one person is not able to do the simple acts that every other person can do. Ableism is discriminated against in many different ways; subsequently, creating society to feel that discrimination is acceptable. To down grade someone with a disability many stores do t without even noticing, they have stairs and no ramp, or they have a little lift to get into their establishment. Society does not think about the little things every disabled person has to consider when participating in an event. By researching this –ism I want to gain knowledge as to how we can stop this discrimination in our society.…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is easy to recognize people with handicaps as a minority group and acknowledge the ways they are discriminated against. What is not easy to recognize is our part in silently perpetuating their oppression by not recognizing our own privilege, whether it be ableism or healthyism. Disabled people want to be valued for their own individualism and contributions to their family, work places, and communities and not discriminated against because they may not be able to function as an able-bodied person would expect the too. We only have one thing to do in this life and that is to become our best self and everyone should have that freedom. It starts with laws and acts protecting the disabled, physically limited, chronically ill, severely obese,…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the entire semester in Disabilities in Society, I found that the entire class was interesting especially having guest speakers. We learned about models of disability, language, media and the arts, autism, stereotypes and attitudes, mental health, eugenics, employment, universal design, education, and more. The most important things I learned in class was stereotyping and attitudes that still exist, education and language. In society, people view people with a disability differently, I learned that there are myths created by society.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Since ancient times, people used to treat disabled individuals in a special way. Human beings with physical disabilities are considered unable to work and perform some tasks while people with mental disabilities are not perceived seriously at all. Such situation occurs everywhere, and it depends not on the citizens of society in particular but the whole society in general. The problem of ableist society is important because, in such society, handicapped persons cannot enjoy life with all its benefits in the same way as non-disabled persons can. People live in the world of norms, and these norms are created by several individuals who are happy to hold a ruling position.…

    • 2124 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays