| According to wikipedia, disablism is defined as follows: | | | | However, as Bracknell states, even among |
| discriminatory, oppressive, or abusive behaviour arising | | | | non-disabled individuals, better attitudes can be |
| from the belief that disabled people are inferior to | | | | manifested in ways that are less than helpful and |
| others. | | | | sometimes even obstacle-forming. |
| I'll be honest. Until recently, I had never even heard the | | | | Chiefly, this takes the form of assumptions regarding |
| term. Now, this might seem to be an odd disconnect | | | | what individuals with disabilities can or cannot do with |
| since I, myself, blog about disability issues. However, | | | | regard to the performance of ordinary and routine |
| blogging about disability benefits tends to be a fairly | | | | daily activities. Bracknell calls this "benevolent |
| narrow and restricted area of conversation. In other | | | | discrimination". |
| words, you may not see the forest for the trees. | | | | Benevolent discrimination (by family members, friends, |
| Fortunately, for the interested yet uninformed, there | | | | co-workers, and managers) may be innocent in nature |
| exists a world of blogs authored by writers who have | | | | and intent since it is driven by subconscious |
| a vested (and sometimes very personal) interest in | | | | motivations; however, the effect can be such that |
| their subject matter. One such blog is "The Perorations | | | | opportunities for advancement can become more |
| of Lady Bracknell". | | | | limited for individuals with disabilities. And the road to |
| I'm not quite sure just who Lady Bracknell is, but I found | | | | advancement may, effectively, devolve into a lane that |
| myself intrigued by her post on disablism. As she | | | | travels nowhere. |
| considers the issue, the definition for disablism used by | | | | How do you combat discriminatory behavior of the |
| wikipedia is overly strong. Instead, it is her opinion that | | | | benevolent kind? Well, as this type of behavior is the |
| most discriminatory behavior that is directed towards | | | | "handiwork" of those who mean well enough, most |
| the disabled (and this itself is a point of contention | | | | likely the best defense is a good...channel of |
| among who would prefer to use the phrase "those | | | | communication. And for this purpose, each disability |
| with disabilities", but Lady Bracknell used the word | | | | blog has been quite excellent in providing a forum for |
| disabled and so I'll use it as well in this article) occurs on | | | | individuals to exchange information and express |
| a subconscious level. | | | | viewpoints. As one blogger who was part of "Blogging |
| I would have to agree. In nearly every society, you will | | | | against disablism Day" put it: "Crips of the world |
| find a small percentage of the population that is | | | | unite...we have nothing to lose but other people's |
| capable of unsavory and malicious behavior. But, by | | | | misperceptions". |
| and large, most individuals are a bit more enlightened. | | | | |