Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!

Ableism refers to bias, prejudice, and discrimination against People with Disabilities, deeply rooted in community norms and values that regard being nondisabled as the ideal. It hinges on the idea that People with Disabilities are less valuable than nondisabled people. This harmful bias manifests in many ways, such as ableist language and discriminatory practices that prevent People with Disabilities from fully engaging in the communities they belong to. One common form of ableism is to simply ignore People with Disabilities completely as community activities and event planning takes place. This exclusion not only perpetuates systemic barriers but also significantly impacts the human and civil rights of People with Disabilities. Ableism creates barriers, including the failure to make programs, services, and events, as well as materials and communications, accessible and inclusive. Removing these barriers is essential for building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities! Understanding the impact of ableism on community-building efforts is crucial, and decisive action must be taken to remove these barriers.
“If any discrimination is at all to be tolerated,” Shoghi Effendi has stated, “it should be a discrimination not against, but rather in favour of the minority, be it racial or otherwise.” - Universal House of Justice letter, 27 December, 2017.
Question: Are Ableist Practices the default in your community? If so, why is that and what should you be doing about it?
Recognizing ableism begins with understanding that nearly 1 in 4 people in the United States live with a disability. Globally, People with Disabilities represent about 25% of the population, making them the largest marginalized group. Despite this, ableism remains one of the most common forms of prejudice. It is essential to address this by promoting inclusive attitudes and practices that support full participation for People with Disabilities in all aspects of the communities they belong to.
The impact of ableism extends to various levels of community, including institutional, interpersonal, and internal levels. Institutional ableism affects policies and systems, such as healthcare, where the assumption that disability leads to a lower quality of life can result in inadequate care and support. Interpersonal ableism occurs in everyday interactions, often through well-meaning but patronizing behavior. Internalized ableism affects individuals' self-perception and can hinder their ability to advocate for themselves. Striving to remove these barriers is vital for fostering inclusive communities where People with Disabilities are fully recognized as equal members with their human and civil rights upheld.
Systemic Ableism refers to the pervasive, institutionalized discrimination against People with Disabilities embedded within community structures, policies, and practices. This form of ableism is ingrained in institutions, cultures, and norms, leading to persistent barriers that exclude People with Disabilities. Community administrators and members have a responsibility to remove these barriers to ensure full participation for People with Disabilities in their own communities.
Anti-ableism is the active effort to remove ableist structures, practices, and beliefs. A crucial component of anti-ableism is advocacy, which involves actively challenging ableist stereotypes, promoting accessibility and inclusivity, and amplifying the voices of People with Disabilities. Advocacy helps to ensure that the rights of People with Disabilities are acknowledged and addressed in community policies and practices. By engaging in advocacy as part of anti-ableism efforts, we contribute to removing barriers and building communities where People with Disabilities can thrive.
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