Ableism

As the University of Waterloo strives to advance accessibility and disability inclusion within our campuses and communities, it is vital that we are aware of the continued, systemic impacts of ableism as part of our continued commitment to collaboratively dismantling ableism. This work is a vital component of the University’s dedication to an inclusive, equitable campus community. 

If you experience instances of ableism at the University of Waterloo and need support, contact the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism.

Ableism refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that devalue and discriminate against people with disabilities. Similar to other forms of discrimination, ableism is based on the belief that being non-disabled is better and more desirable than being disabled. It fails to recognize the fact that disability is part of the natural variation in the human population. Ableism may be subtle or direct, conscious or unconscious, and can be embedded in institutions, systems, or cultures. It includes the belief that people with disabilities need or want to be “fixed” to reach a non-disabled norm.   

Ableism focuses on fixing, blaming, and excluding the person for not fitting in with environments. This focus shifts attention away from the failures of buildings, systems, and environments that were designed only for a certain segment of the population. Ableism does not challenge communities or places to become more welcoming and accessible, instead placing the blame for inaccessibility on the person with the disability and limits opportunities for disabled people. 

Sure, intentional discrimination sucks, but I feel like indirect discrimination based on ignorance is probably the most frustrating thing. Because in order to discriminate against a person, you have to be aware of the issue and be able to identify what’s discriminatory and what is not. Disability issues are just largely unknown to many people. That ignorance is costly.

Examples of Ableism in Postsecondary Education 

Ableism Example #1

Expecting or pressuring someone to attend in-person workshops and events when hybrid options are possible 

Ableism Example #4

Moving someone’s mobility device, such as a wheelchair or walker, without their permission

Ableism Example #2

Believing that someone who receives an accommodation is getting an advantage and doesn’t need or deserve that support

Ableism Example #5

Grading student engagement in a way that favours non-disabled norms, such as grading students on how much they speak up in class or deducting grades for missing class

Ableism Example #3

Temporarily blocking an accessible entrance or pathway with event decorations or equipment

Ableism Example #6

Comparing the way someone else's nervous system reacts to florescent lighting, or the scent of a co-worker's perfume, with your own reaction as justification for not addressing the co-worker's request to change the lighting or to have a scent-free workplace

It’s not a matter of I want you to wear the FM microphone, I NEED you to wear it...The amount of times I have “fought” with professors about this issue is three times too many.

Examples of Ableist Questions and Phrases to Avoid

The following table highlights common examples of ableist questions and phrases to avoid. These forms of ableism, often considered as microaggressions, are not typically said with ill intent, however, they still have harmful impacts.  

Form of Ableism Example Why is this ableist?
Invasive personal questions about a person’s disability or drawing attention to a person’s disability 

“What’s wrong with you/your legs?” 

“What happened to you?” 

“Why do you use a wheelchair?” 

“Why are you wearing sunglasses inside? Is it too sunny in the office for you?” 

  • It inappropriately calls attention to the person’s disability and implies that there is something wrong with the person.  

  • It forces the disabled person to talk about and explain their disability which means that they are not free to participate and contribute in the same was a non-disabled people. 

  • It places your curiosity as more important than another person’s privacy or their desire to function in society without having to repeatedly explain their disability to satisfy others’ curiosity. 

  • People with disabilities do not owe you an explanation.  

  • Everyone has a right to privacy. 
Offering unsolicited, uninformed medical advice and guidance 

“You should try ...” 

“Can’t you just have surgery?” 

“Why don’t you just take medication to fix this?”

  • Implies that the person needs to be fixed or cured 

  • Assumes you have more knowledge about what the disabled person needs 

  • Assumes that the disabled person needs or wants your advice about a personal issue 

  • Assumes that the disabled person wants to be ‘fixed’ or ‘get better’ 
Minimizing the disability

“It’s not that bad” 

“It could be a lot worse” 

“Everyone has something to deal with” 

“At least you can still work. It’s not like you’re totally disabled.” 

“Oh, so that’s not a real disability” 

“Lots of people have it way worse” 

  • No-one has the right to judge another person’s life experience as trivial. 

  • This form of “toxic positivity” minimizes a person’s lived experience.   

  • Assumes that you can tell what a person’s life experience is just by looking at them. 
Giving a false compliment that conveys disbelief of the disability

“You don’t look disabled” 

“Are you sure you’re disabled?You look great!”  

  • It implies that disabled people look – or should look – a certain way  

  • It implies that disabled people cannot look like non-disabled people. 

  • It suggests that the disabled person is faking their disability.  
Giving condescending comments cloaked as compliments when the person is just doing daily tasks, such as taking public transit, or getting a cup of coffee 

“I could never do what you do. You’re amazing.” 

“It’s inspiring that you get up each morning with everything you have to go through” 

“I don’t know how you do what you do” 

  • Suggesting that a person is remarkable just for living their daily life is insulting. 

  • It overlooks a disabled person’s accomplishments by focusing on their disability.  

  • It uses disabled people as “inspiration porn”. 

  • It calls uninvited attention to a person’s disability. 
Suggesting that the person can overcome their disability if they just try harder  

“If you put your mind to it, you can beat this.” 

“If you just apply yourself more, you can do anything.” 

“My neighbour has the same disability, and they can work.” 

  • It suggests that disability is a choice and that the person has control over their disability, and therefore could and should be doing more to become non-disabled. 

  • It suggests that a person is responsible for causing their disability. 

  • It implies that all people who share a diagnosis experience that diagnosis in exactly the same way. 
Rewriting a disabled person’s words 

“Don’t say you’re disabled; you’re not disabled, you just have a health problem.” 

“You should say that you have a disability, not that you’re disabled.  You are not your disability.” 

  • It does not respect the person’s individual preferences or their right to express their disability identity in their own voice. 

  • It implies that there is a right way and a wrong way to identify with disability.  

  • It assumes that you know more about how the person identifies with their disability than they do. 

  • It treats “disability” and “disabled” as bad words that should be avoided. 
Questioning a disabled person’s ability to perform tasks 

“Are you sure you can handle that?”

“Do you really think you should be applying for the promotion? That will mean a lot of extra hours. Are you really up to that?”

“Why don’t you just rest; we’ll take care of everything.”  
  • It presumes that you know what a disabled person can and cannot do and what’s best for them. 
  • It makes assumptions about ability that are based on false stereotypes. 

I'm very tired of being thankful for accessible toilets, you know? I really am tired of feeling that way, when I basically feel that, if I have to feel thankful about an accessible bathroom, when am I ever gonna be equal in the community?

How to Dismantle Ableism

Here are some of the many ways to dismantle ableism: 

For more information about integrating accessibility into your work, please visit the Guides and Resources section of this website. 

We also need to stop treating access as a charitable and nice thing to do. It has to become a default. Accessibility has been missing for far too long, and it’s actually required.

Resources

Canadian Accessibility Network: A Guide for Recognizing Ableism

Government of Canada – A way with words and images: A guide for communicating with and about persons with disabilities

Ontario Human Rights Commission – Policy on Ableism and Discrimination Based on Disability

Dolmage, J. (2017). Academic Ableism. Disability and Higher Education. University of Michigan Press.