What Is Ableism? What Is Ableist Language?

Stemming from a possibly good-intentioned presumption, ableism is the exclusive attitude that disability has to be fixed. Many people with disabilities don’t want to be viewed as less capable of life activities and don’t want their voice to be ignored. Ableist language, however subtle, promotes ableism.

Consider these examples:

• “You’re blind to what your boyfriend wants.”
• “You’d have to be insane to get a fourth dog.”
• Lumping people together by using “the”: “the elderly,” “the handicapped,” and “the mentally ill.”

To learn more, read my disability activism post or online examples of ableist language.

Source: Maryland GovPics, Flickr Creative Commons

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Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.