The last couple of years have been a learning experience, as I discovered more about who and what I am. One of these things I first learned when starting this experience was ableism. A long time ago, long before I even took a class on sociological theory, ableism was just a new word for me. Whenever I am learning a new word, I always look into the dictionary to learn the definition; ableism still was not clear for me. As time went on and more stories were shared in a group I was involved in on Facebook, ableism became much more clear for me.

While the definition of ableism is clearly discrimination against those with disabilities, it can also be known as discrimination in favor of those who are able-bodied. Ableism is almost similar to a theory that can be built up by those with disabilities when it comes to ableist acts made by able-bodied individuals. Ableism is very common on a daily basis, but there are days when ableism does not happen often; I lie, it happens too often everywhere we go. No matter how much we would like to decrease ableism, it can work but it still will exist in everyday life.

There are several occurrences with ableism for those who do have disabilities.

1. Benefits and welfare.

Obtaining benefits and welfare is a controversial issue, and it is also ableist for people with disabilities. Other than the fact that you have to be sure to have social security number and wait in a waiting room for several hours, the process is much longer for people with disabilities. Even if those who work with Social Security can see that a person with a disability have a mobility equipment or anything else, they send people with disabilities to doctors to prove that they do have a disability.

2. Doubts about persons with wheelchairs, mobility equipment or assistive technology

It can be very irritating dealing with this because able-bodied people tend to always react as if we always need the help. No, we’re all fine, we are pretty independent. There are places nowadays that have automatic door buttons, like my college, but we never need the help unless we ask. We can manage to figure out a way around things. Able-bodied individuals need to stop thinking of how people with disabilities are not capable of doing anything general in life. Able-bodied individuals also need to stop saying the word can’t when people with disabilities actually can accomplish things!

3. Threats for accommodations used.

This is very typical, even for teachers/professors who are new to learning about amazing accommodations that people with disabilities can have. When it comes to using Typewell, a speech to text service for those who are deaf/hard of hearing, there are some professors that are amazed and there are some that are genuinely worried. The professors are worried about themselves because they can use expletive language at times, and they assume that I am using Typewell to record what is said to use against them. That’s never going to happen because what is said only belongs to me and a person(s) who transcribe the lecture so I can follow along.

4. Cure for disabilities.

A long time ago, way before I even joined the group on Facebook and started thinking of disabilities in society, I was fascinated in the thought of a potential cure to hear forever. At the time, scientists were testing to see if it would work on three different people, but they still needed to adjust and that was the last I heard of it. Now, I am against having a cure for my disabilities simply because I am who I am and my disabilities tell a story.

5. Limited access, limited access everywhere.

This is more common than you think. A majority of you would think, Oh, there’s only a tiny step or two, no big deal! Realistically, it is kind of a big deal because how are people with disabilities going to get in places and move around when it is not accessible? There’s also the concern when a space is too small for those who uses a wheelchair or mobility equipment. If there are limited access to anything, then it creates more of a limit for people with disabilities.

6. Having to use the bathroom, but someone else is using the large stall.

This is my greatest annoyance because it happens every day. It is truly irritating when people with disabilities do have to use the bathroom, but there is no way because someone else is using the large stall. If it was another person with a disability and mobility equipment, that’s perfectly fine. If it was an able-bodied individual, it’s not OK.

7. Unfair hiring practice.

A long time ago, I applied for a job twice at the same company. Even when I have a perfectly clean record, I never heard back. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that stands on how discrimination shouldn’t exist towards those with disabilities, including jobs. We are people first, and there are ways to allow people with disabilities to work under necessary accommodations that are needed. Our disabilities should not be used against us when we cannot find or get a job.

The list goes on and on and on, it never ends because there is ableism everywhere we go. Some ableist actions have to be explained with great depth, and some ableist actions have to be recalled as everyday reminders for able-bodied individuals.