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.  

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Since being placed as a excludable type shifts the focus to the disabled person experiencing inaccess as the point of inaccess it can lead to individuals questioning whether they are deserving of access to a space, if they are using their accommodations enough, if they are doing enough to 'be less of a burden' - this is a form of internalized ableismm

Excludable Types and Internalized Ableism 

- 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

Ableism

As an example of how stigma affects students with ADHD, one student chose to decline academic accommodations such as note-taking assistance because he felt that taking Adderall already gave him the support he needed—and using additional help would be perceived as cheating. This reflects the internalized pressure to appear “normal” and the fear of being seen as overly dependent or undeserving, both of which are shaped by the stigma surrounding ADHD and academic aid.

Example of Stigma Effects on Students with ADHD

Talia A. Lewis. (2019, March 5). Longmore Lecture: Context, Clarity & Grounding. https://www.talilalewis.com/blog/longmore-lecture-context-clarity-grounding

Longmore Lecture: Context, Clarity & Grounding

Internalized Ableism

Excludable types incite internalized ableism and make structures of ableism in academia harder to perceive. It is not just that every disabled individual within academia understands and operates within crip spacetime it is that crip spacetime is hard to perceive but  is continuously coming into existence and constituted through agents, objects, spaces and how disabled academics are and others in academia are interacting with them.

Crip Spacetime and Excludable Types

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


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

Self-stigma refers to when people with disabilities internalize prejudices against them, leading to a lack of confidence and lowered self-esteem. This may manifest as hiding conditions, avoiding social activities, refusing to access disability services, or distancing from stigmatized people.

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