Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Last week, I started a new blog series all about invisible disabilities and today I am back to share Part Two. To review, an invisible disability is an umbrella term used to describe any disability that is not immediately apparent to another person and invisible disabilities make up 90% of all disabilities. It is estimated that approximately 10% of people in the United States has an invisible disability.
Read MoreInvisible Disability, or Hidden Disability, means exactly as what it sounds like - a disability that is hidden. This umbrella term is used to describe any disability that is not immediately apparent to another person. An invisible disability most commonly refers to a person who does not use an assistive device (such as a cochlear implant) or other support (such as a white cane for the blind), though it can also include people who occasionally use an assistive device/support. For example, a person with lupus may only use a wheelchair during a flare up to relieve joint pain.
Read MoreBefore we can discuss ableist terms, I think it’s important to define what ableism is and what it means for our society. Ableism, by literal definition, is the favoring of able-bodied people and discrimination of disabled people. Ableism is the belief that an able-bodied person is better than, superior to, or more valuable than a disabled person. Ableism can manifest in a variety of ways, such as assuming incompetence, segregation in schools (think general education vs. special education), and portraying disabilities as “inspirational” or “devastating.” Ableism includes stereotypes, discrimination and prejudices and, just like sexism and sexism, deems an entire population as “inferior” to another.
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