The authors note that an increase in disabled students does often note an increase in access for disabled students in higher education but does not have any bearing on whether or not academia still perpetuates ableism.

Correlation between Higher Numbers of Disabled Students and Ableism

Ableism makes people think that differences in how bodies and minds work are bad. This mindset turns the term "defective" into an insult and affects how society treats those seen as different. Laws, medical practices, and schools often reflect this bias, leading to the isolation of people labeled as defective. Ableism influences health care and legal systems, supporting ideas that erase individuals and communities, while strengthening the power of those in control by ignoring marginalized voices.


Ableism and Its Societal Ramifications


Internalized ableism is when disabled individuals internalize the idea that people's bodies and minds are assigned value based on being perceived as being non-disabled, or "normal." Often these valuations are based on individuals appearance, their ability to produce work at the volume and capacity that is expected by others, their ability to excel in societally valued settings and their ability to behave in ways that are societally accepted.  

Internalized Ableism

Academic ableism relies on the biomedical model of disability. This model focuses on diagnostic lables and the creation of an individualized approach to accomidations. The students hold responsibility to report and maintain accomodations throughout their academic career.

Ableism in Academia and the Biomedical Model of Disability

- The valuing of certain traits and abilities over others
- Ableism occurs due to cultural and societal norms and can manifest as ableist language, inaccessible public transport, difficulty in accessing and utilizing services, and the idea that people with disabilities are “brave” simply for living in the world

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

- Originally coined in response to instances of racism but has since expanded to include sexism, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, and xenophobia 
- There are three proposed types of microaggressions: microinsults (unintended and unrecognized), microassaults (intentional and discriminatory), and microinvalidations (discredits the realties and experiences of people who hold marginalized identities

Origins of Microaggressions

Kattari, S. K. (2020). Ableist microaggressions and the mental health of disabled adults. Community Mental Health Journal, 56(6), 1170–1179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00615-6 

Ableist Microaggressions and the Mental Health of Disabled Adults Reference

Ableism

- Making jokes about a disability as a person without the disability, “helping” someone perceived as disabled without permission, and assuming people with intellectual/learning disabilities are incapable of completing school are just a few examples of ableist microaggressions

How Ableist Microaggressions Occur

- Microassaults include avoiding particular groups of people, name calling, and the use of slurs. Anything that is done to intentionally hurt someone falls into this category.
- Microinsults include saying or doing something that seems innocuous but is actually very rude: such as “you’re attractive for a (insert disabled identity)” or “you’re very well spoken for a (insert disabled identity)”. These comments are often unrecognized as insultive by the person saying them.
- Microinvalidations take away from a person with a disability’s struggle and experience such as saying their disability isn’t all that bad compared to someone else’s disability or situation in life or implying affirmative action is the only reason a person got their job. This form of ableism is often the most implicit form and thus harder to recognize. 


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