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Essay / The problem of ableism, its causes, effects and solutions
One billion people, or 15% of the world's population, are disabled. People with disabilities are part of the largest minority group in the world and few people recognize it and are often unaware of it. People discriminate against people with disabilities and this act of segregation is called ableism. Ableism dates back to 300 BC and affects everyone, everywhere, but primarily people with disabilities. This is a huge problem that we don't talk about enough and should stop. The issue of ableism itself is included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR was created by the draft committee with Eleanor Roosevelt leading the meeting for its creation. It is a document that protects and sets out human rights and was created on December 10, 1948 in Paris, France. The UDHR was developed with the aim of protecting everyone's rights, but the main trigger was the Holocaust. After Adolf Hitler's discrimination and massacre of Jews, people wanted to make sure it would never happen again. One of the most important rights under the UDHR is the right to be treated equally. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen all the time. Ableism is just one example. Ableism is a problem because people with disabilities face discrimination, don't have their own voice, and are defined by their disability. It's a problem that needs to be stopped, but to solve the problem of ableism, you first have to understand what it is. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAbleism is an issue that affects people all over the world and affects people with disabilities. Ableism is not a well-known problem, but it happens very often due to its normalization in our society. In fact, an article published by the Achievement Center of Texas states, “Many, if not most, people with disabilities are victims of ableism.” Most ableism is caused by prejudice from people with disabilities. It can also come from people thinking they need to feel pity for that person or from stereotyping. An informative presentation by Devin Axtman asserted that “this leads to viewing disability as *THE OTHER* and as something to be overcome.” There is such a lack of knowledge about disability and the breadth of the disability spectrum. There are visible and invisible types of disabilities, but few people realize them. To truly illustrate what ableism is, you have to look at your past and see where it comes from. The problem of ableism has to come from somewhere, at some point. Surprisingly, ableism has existed for over 2000 years. A very early example of this dates back to 355 BC. Records show that the Greek philosopher Aristotle remarked that “those who are born deaf become insane and incapable of reasoning.” The disability community has experienced many significant events. They can range from the “war of dots” – in which the blind plead in favor of traditional Braille – to the opening of psychiatric establishments. A Bancroft Library document shows '1848. The first residential facility for people suffering from mental retardation was founded by Samuel Gridley Howe at the Perkins Institution in Boston. Over the next century, hundreds of thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities will be institutionalized, many for the rest of their lives. Ableism was and still is very present in the world. Many of the actions and events that occurred were largelyagainst the disabled community. Now that we know where it comes from, we need to know why it was born. Many factors combine to make the problem of ableism worse. One of the many reasons for ableism is negative attitudes toward people with disabilities. People are also very quick to jump to conclusions and make assumptions about people with disabilities. An article on Erin Human describes that “there is no single cause of ableism; rather, it is a complex and interrelated set of attitudes, assumptions, and biases. A large portion of the population is also inexperienced and uncomfortable around people with disabilities. Even though they make up 15% of the world's population, few people know how to interact with them. A speech given by Stella Young, a disability activist, mentions that "this child had only ever seen disabled people as objects of inspiration." If society continues to exclude disabled people, less often 6 people will encounter a disabled person. The only way to address these prejudices and negative attitudes towards people with disabilities is to integrate them into the community. In summary, many factors contribute to ableism and this is a huge violation. Ableism should not be overlooked and it is a serious issue in which people with disabilities can feel violated. Everyone should be treated equally, but when society allows people to treat others differently because of their disability, society is one step closer to a more segregated world. A report presented by H-Dirkson L. Bauman, a Ph.D., states: "Some people believe that it is ableism that prevents people with disabilities from participating in the social fabric of their community, rather than physical, mental or emotional. .' The Nazi euthanasia program is an extreme violation of people with disabilities. This program was designed with the goal of killing and exterminating disabled people so that there could be a "pure" race. The chemical used is called Tiergartenstrasse or more commonly known as T4. An estimated 250,000 people were killed by this program. An article in the Holocaust Encyclopedia explains: “In the spring and summer of 1939, a number of planners began organizing a covert assassination operation targeting disabled children. » Killing people because they are “unworthy of life” or a “burden” is very inhumane and unthinkable. Ableism should not be a problem or violated because there are laws against it. There are a variety of laws and documents that have been implemented in order to reduce ableism. One of the most well-known documents that protect the rights of people with disabilities is the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA. The ADA was established in 1990 and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, government, and transportation, and gives people with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in events and activities. A guide to disability rights laws from the U.S. Department of Justice explains: “The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications. There are an array of laws and documents supporting people with disabilities, from the Civil Rights Reform Act – which hopes to end discrimination against applicants with disabilities – to the Rehabilitation Act – which authorizes the financing of activities related to disability. The United States Department of Labor has a web page that states "There are five lawsImportant federal laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in employment and the job application process: The Americans with Disabilities Act The Rehabilitation Act The Workforce Investment Act Veterans Affairs from the Vietnam era. Readjustment Assistance Act. Civil Service Reform Act. These documents and laws are all very important and an important help to the disability community. A very famous document in which ableism is included and violated is the UDHR. Ableism is a global problem despite being featured in one of the most famous human rights documents. The articles that are violated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are articles one, two, nineteen and twenty-three. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1 states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and must act towards each other in a spirit of fraternity. Article 19 states that everyone has the right to express their opinions without 11 interference from others. Article twenty-three states that everyone is treated equally in work environments and everyone receives equal pay. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2 states: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, including race, color, sex , language, religion, political opinion or other. national or social origin, fortune, birth or any other situation. All of these articles are in one way or another in favor of the disabled community, ranging from treating all in the spirit of brotherhood to equal opportunity and treatment. Now that the issue of ableism is raised in the UDHR, why does it exist? Although the UDHR is a well-known document, few people pay attention to the human rights listed there. Many people don't really know how wide the disability spectrum is. Instead, people think accommodations should be made only for those who are physically disabled. Although the government has worked to alleviate the difficulties faced by people with disabilities through laws or other benefits, not all are available to everyone. An article written on Bulawayo 24 News by Linda T. Masarira explains: “The government has enacted various anti-disability laws to alleviate the challenges faced by the disabled. The Persons with Disabilities Act and the Mental Health Act are part of the legislature. The Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Social Services also deals with people with disabilities in the Department of Social Services. Disabled people receive small subsidies and food items. However, these benefits are not accessible to the majority of people with disabilities. Communities do not know how often people with physical disabilities use accessibility ramps and other mobile adjustments put in place by the government. Some people really need them to get around and many places where you think they aren't necessary don't have them. An article by Rachel Bluth of the Washington Post states that "laws meant to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities fall short when it comes to going to the doctor, leaving disabled patients to scramble in a tricky obstacle course that not only leaves them feeling uncomfortable, but also jeopardizes their care. Few people are aware of the need to put in placethese adjustments. We now know why it exists even though it appears in the UDHR, but we do not know who or what implemented the issue of ableism. Anyone and everything can be responsible for discriminating against people with disabilities. Ultimately, all the misinterpretations and stigma surrounding people with disabilities. People who add to this stigma and endorse or follow it add to the problem of ableism. A common stereotype about people with mental illness is that they are all violent when in reality, they really aren't. The Ontario Human Rights Commission wrote: “Discrimination against people with mental health or addiction issues is often linked to harmful attitudes, negative stereotypes and general stigma surrounding mental health and addictions . All of these concepts are interrelated. »15 Some schools may add to the stress that children with disabilities may or may not already be feeling. Schools can put unnecessary pressure and make a student feel bad about themselves because of their disability. For example, a child with dyslexia should not be forced to read a higher-level book to “train their brain.” An article by Thomas Hehir of Educational Leadership states that "negative cultural attitudes toward disability can undermine opportunities for all students to participate fully in school and society." Society cannot just wait for something magical to happen and ableism to suddenly disappear, no, instead society must take steps to make students with disabilities feel more comfortable in schools or to educate the public about disability. These responsible people and actions greatly affect a group of people. With ableism, people face daily obstacles. People who have speaking, hearing, reading, writing and understanding skills face barriers to communication. People with low vision may face barriers when it comes to writing in small print, without large print, or lacking braille. People who are hard of hearing may have difficulty with videos that are not captioned or lack other forms of communication like American Sign Language. An article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains: “Almost everyone faces trials and difficulties at one time or another. But for people with disabilities, barriers may be more common and have a greater impact. There are also mobility problems for the physically disabled and economic problems for those who need prostheses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc. An article written by Linda T. Masarira of Bulawayo News states: “The challenges faced by people with disabilities range from physical (structural), emotional, economic and psychological, educational and cultural.” People with disabilities can be easily targeted and pushed around because people view them as inferior. Although people with disabilities face the greatest number of challenges, their families may also face challenges. Families play an important role in the life of a family member with a disability. There are mothers who are afraid that their child will be discriminated against and who try to hide their disability as best they can. People may also feel that non-disabled family members stand in the way of a more inclusive society. An article written by Dr. Susan L. Neely-Barnes states that “the results"Qualitative research also shows that families can get along with an ableist program and look for ways to make their disabled member appear less disabled." In the mid-1900s, patients were often admitted to mental institutions by family members because they were seen as a burden. Patients were not allowed to talk and were not taken seriously because of the way they were perceived regarding their disability. An article based on the treatment of disabled people throughout history states: “Patients were often admitted by families against their own will, as they were seen as a burden; patients could not challenge the confinements. Even if families cannot enroll their children in an institution, they can act towards their loved ones in different ways that can make them feel a range of emotions. Families, including people with disabilities, face challenges and when you realize how many people face these challenges, it would be hard not to be blown away. Contrary to what many people think, there are actually many people with disabilities. The American Community Survey estimates that the number of people with disabilities in the United States was 12.6% in 2015 and has increased since. In 2010, this percentage was 11.9%. A report by the ACS states that “the American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that the overall rate of people with disabilities in the U.S. population in 2015 was 12.6 percent. » The state with the lowest percentage of 23 people with disabilities is Utah at 9.9% and the highest is West Virginia at 19.4%, almost double that of Utah. That being said, it is clear that people with disabilities make up a significant portion of the population, and for them to feel more inclusive, society needs to make appropriate adjustments. A report from Disabled World states: “Understanding the prevalence of the disabled population in various counties and cities across the United States is important so that programs, urban, community, and service planners and researchers can make decisions and respond to needs. disabled people. » A very large number of people are disabled and that is why the community must welcome them with good intentions. With this large number of disabled people, it would be difficult not to come across one and when some people suffer from them, their reactions can be surprising. People with disabilities are subject to a lot of backlash from strangers. When people meet a child with a disability, their reactions may be strange simply because it may be the first time they have met a child with a disability and it is very new to them. Some reactions to a child with a disability may include shock, confusion, uncertainty, fear, curiosity, staring, offering help, ignoring or avoiding the person. A compilation of experiences of disabled people says: “Those with mobility problems were offered places on the train or helped with shopping. But people have also been victims of petty crimes and have been stopped by members of the public over their use of a blue badge. It's a boiling pot of 26 reactions that people with disabilities sometimes experience on a daily basis. One reaction people might have is wanting to include and represent people or people with disabilities, even though their intentions are good, many are horribly misinterpreted and represented in pop culture. Pop culture does not accurately representpeople with disabilities and, for this reason, they are often misinterpreted. People with disabilities are more often represented in pop culture, but often they are not represented correctly. An example of misinterpretation is little magical people or dwarves who bring magic to people and live in the forest, but there are currently people living with this disability. Another trope is that of the helpless victim, in which a disabled person cannot take care of themselves. The final misinterpretation is the perennial trope of innocence where a disabled character is and always will be completely innocent. An article written by Sean Arnold, a disabled person, writes: “On the opposite end of the spectrum, the mere presence of a disabled person trying to regain a sense of normalcy should not be considered inherently moving. Someone in a wheelchair can be a jerk in a wheelchair. There are also an impressive number of disabled characters played by non-disabled people. A recent study shows that 5% of disabled characters on television are actually played by disabled people. An article written by Bethonie Butler explains: “On television, the number of non-disabled actors playing disabled characters is staggering. » These misinterpretations of people with disabilities can send the wrong messages. One of the effects of this misinterpretation of people with disabilities is that many are unaware of how financially draining it is to have a disability. People with disabilities have more economic needs than people without disabilities. There are services that help improve the financial situation of people with disabilities. One of the most common long-term disability insurance policies costs between 1 and 3 percent of a person's annual salary. Factors such as a person's age, health, occupation, and even where they live can change how much a LTD insurance policy will cost. Policy Genius clearly states: “In most cases, a long-term disability insurance policy will cost between 1 and 3 percent of your annual salary and is the most cost-effective form of income protection you can get, starting from 'around $25 per month and going up to $500 per month. »29 Two other major services that help people with disabilities are Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. SSI is a social assistance program for people with low income and fewer resources. The current benefit is $735 per month. SSDI is an insurance program for workers who become disabled and unable to work after paying Social Security taxes for at least 10 years. The American Psychological Association writes: “The high incidence of poverty among people with disabilities fuels doubts about the adequacy of public assistance for these people and incentives to help people return to work. » Although some of these services may be difficult to benefit from immediately, they help in the long run. Many people and businesses have stepped up to make living with a disability more affordable, which is a huge improvement in progress. The way people with disabilities are treated has improved in the 2000 years since its inception. Deinstitutionalization, which began in the 1960s, was a major step forward for society. This was a government policy that moved mental health patients from state-run "insane asylums" to community mental health centers. This happened indue to the development of psychiatric medications that treated many of the symptoms of some patients. Society also understood that the mentally ill should be treated rather than detained. An article by Kimberly Amadeo of The Balance points out that “deinstitutionalization has succeeded in giving more rights to people with intellectual disabilities. Many people hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals have lived in remote areas for decades. They received different levels of care. It has also changed the culture of treatment from “sending them away” to integrating them into society where possible. » At first, people tried to “cure” people with 31 disabilities through methods such as electroshock therapy, but it was clear that this did not work. Deinstitutionalization was furthered in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter signed the Mental Health Systems Act which hoped to restructure the community mental health center program and improve services for people with mental illnesses. Medicaid has also greatly contributed and assisted in deinstitutionalization. People have used all kinds of strategies to fight for people with disabilities and get to where we are now. For improvement to begin, certain strategies must be used; some are effective, others less so. There are many ways that people try to limit ableism and some strategies have worked, others have not. There are a large number of organizations all using different strategies to combat ableism. Two examples are the American Association of Persons with Disabilities, which attempts to implement nondiscrimination laws for people with disabilities, and the National Organization on Disability, which raises public awareness of disability by disseminating news, information and resources. The National Center on Disability and Journalism states that "AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of laws against discrimination against people with disabilities, particularly disability. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973." VOR is another popular organization that uses effective strategies. VOR stands for A Voice Of Reason and their mission is to best represent people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. VOR states that “for 30 years, VOR has represented families of people with ID, many of whom suffer from severe and profound developmental disabilities, have multiple physical disabilities, and are medically fragile or engage in dangerous behaviors. »34 They also say that people and families of people with disabilities feel welcomed. Strategies like these have helped the disability community. A common strategy is to be more inclusive and make things more accessible for people with disabilities. People have made certain things more accessible to people with physical disabilities. There are a set of rules and requirements that a building must meet to be called handicapped accessible. These things can be handicapped accessible for people with physical, visual, hearing or hearing disabilities. A guideline published by the National Disability Authority states that "the National Disability Authority model access manual defines an access manual as an internal document intended for use by management, maintenance staff and new staff ; and of which all staff should be aware. However, there issome exceptions. Buildings constructed before 1992 do not need to follow the most recent guidelines. Some guidelines include wheelchair ramps with certain measurements, braille option, an induction loop system, and everything must be lit. Access Advocates states: “The ADA is a civil rights law that was signed into law in 1992 by President George HW Bush. A small business owner should be aware that a provision of the law refers to public accommodations. This is a provision that prohibits wheelchair access for people with disabilities. These accommodations have helped people with disabilities in their daily lives. People have worked hard to get here. Many people are actively working to make things more accessible to everyone and people should recognize them more often. There are people who have actively fought against ableism and because they are more well-known than others, they can impact more people. There are several ways to express yourself about an issue. Some methods include direct action, filmmaking, journalism, media and many others. There are people with disabilities who are activists like Minnie and others who don't have disabilities like David M. Perry. An article by Amy Bergen of Idealist Careers comments: “High-profile activists in the field of disability rights activism, many of whom are disabled themselves, are changing the way Americans view disability. » Perry advocates through journalism and is known for his thoughts on how people with disabilities are treated as he is the father of a child with Down syndrome and has seen first-hand how people treat others. Minnie is a disability rights activist from Bangladesh and had polio as a child, which caused her to lose the ability to use her legs. She did not have a wheelchair and had to be transported to school. Minnie faced a lot of stigma around her. She helped form the “Women’s Council” with the help of ADD International. Minnie remarked: “We decided to form “Women’s Councils” to solve the problem. There are now 10 councils in our region where women with disabilities can report violence, torture and rape. To help me run the boards, ADD International gave me training in finance, office management, IT, advocacy – I was completely unaware of these things before. Anyone can be an activist if they truly have the drive and passion for what they are fighting for. A person who does not have a disability can still advocate for this cause, even through small actions. Just because a person is not necessarily affected by ableism, they can still do everyday things that can help people with disabilities. One small action everyone can do is take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible to free up space for people who really need it. Another very simple step one can take is to simply remember that people with disabilities are still people and do not want to be treated differently because of their disability. An article by Erin Tatum on Everyday Feminism argues that “superficial circumstances, especially those as obvious as a physical disability, can obscure who a person really is.” Don't sell yourself short with stereotypes. Get to know us. Humanity must be shared and not parceled out based on privilege or experience. A disabled person might change your perspective on things, but it'sjust as likely you can change ours too. People with disabilities also want to be spoken to like any other human being, although some people don't know how to do this. When speaking to a person with a disability, the person should simply be themselves, while respecting the way they communicate. If someone does not want to talk about their disability, their requests must be respected. Latter-day Saints declare: “Just as no two people are the same, no two people with disabilities are the same as anyone else, even if they have the same disability. A disability is a functional limitation that can interfere with a person's ability to walk, hear, speak, see, think, and learn, but does not affect each person in the same way. Disabled people are the first people. They must be seen as people and each is their own person. People with disabilities do not need others to advocate for themselves, and many people with disabilities do many things, on their own, to assert their rights. People with disabilities have their own voice and are able to express their opinions and experiences of ableism. Many people with disabilities fight for themselves and the disability community. Many of them do this through speeches available on YouTube. Judith Heumann is a particularly appreciated person. Judith and other disabled people joined together to fight discrimination and what was born is now called the Disability Rights Movement. Judith remembers: “But I was learning like my friends and people I didn't know all over the country. This, we had to be our own defender. That we had to fight back. Judith's calls were answered and a very memorable moment was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. People with disabilities from across the United States took to the steps of the capitol when the ADA was passed. There are also people who don't live in the United States but are still active against ableism. Disabled women in Rwanda are an example. A Rwandan organization called Umuryango Nyarwanda w'Abagore Bafite Ubumuga or UNABU is a group of women with disabilities who come together to empower women and combat violence against women with disabilities. The Disability Rights Fund explains: “Gaudence Mushimiyimana, herself a disabled woman and co-founder and executive director of UNABU, leads a group of disabled women determined to tackle this issue and remedy the difficult situations faced by women with disabilities . » People with disabilities have proven time and time again throughout history that they are strong people, capable of fighting for themselves and achieving the outcome they hope for. Some people with disabilities fight for their rights through organizations they can join. There are a multitude of organizations fighting and ensuring that people with disabilities are treated the same as everyone else. Some large disability organizations that provide assistance to people with disabilities are the American Psychiatric Association, the National Organization on Disability, and the International Paralympic Committee. All of these organizations focus on something different. For example, the IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympics for disabled people, while others, such as the American Psychiatric Association – the world's largest psychiatric organization – are a place where psychiatrists share their research and discoveries. with each other. The National Center on Disability andjournalism states “National Organization on Disability – Raises awareness of disability through the provision of disability-related news, information and resources.” The NCDJ provides good information on many disability organizations. One specific organization is the Autism Society of America, which focuses on autistic people. The ASA participates in fair hiring practices and is an equal opportunity employer, in addition to having one of the most visited autism websites. The Autism Society of America is a safe and welcoming place for autistic people and their families. The Autism Society of America states that "The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all people affected by autism for more than 50 years and envisions a world in which individuals and families living with autism are in able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the same care. the highest level of dignity and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. Organizations hope that people with disabilities feel welcome and part of their community. Many organizations and many colleges and universities hold events to raise awareness about disability. At many colleges and other venues, events are held to raise awareness about ableism. October is National Disability Awareness Month. Kent State University celebrates Disability Awareness Month every October. They host many events that can educate the masses or make people with disabilities feel welcome. These are people with vision, hearing, mobility and mental disabilities. Kent State University states that "SAS celebrates Disability Awareness Month – the 'd' is intentionally lowercase to emphasize people's abilities rather than their disabilities – each October with the goal of highlight the diverse and varied abilities of people who might otherwise be considered “disabled”. » Another university that hosts events is Syracuse University, which also hosts events that include both able-bodied and able-bodied people. Students help organize these events. Syracuse University says, “Throughout the month of October, the Disability Cultural Center (DCC) and a host of campus partners and student organizations will host Awareness and Appreciation Month of disability. This month's events will focus on disability and its many intersections. The main goal of each event is to raise awareness or include people with disabilities. These awareness-raising events bring humanity as a whole closer to ending ableism. For everyone's sake, ableism must end, and there are many ways to pave the way for ableism to end. One way to end ableism is to try to understand people with disabilities. There are people with disabilities who share their experiences that people can learn from. An overall strategy that can help end ableism is to respect people with disabilities by not making assumptions, being open-minded, thinking about what to say, etc. Supporting causes for people with disabilities can help raise awareness of the severity of ableism. . Even just interacting with a person with a disability can make that person's day better and others can learn from it and do it themselves. Donna Chambers of SensaCalm writes: “If you or a loved one has a disability, it..'