"If you want to tackle bias, rewire people's brains with continuous, natural experiences with people who challenge their stereotypes.”
—Dr. Vivienne Ming
Disability is Not a Bad Word
Using alternative terms to “disabled” is not considered appropriate because they can be seen as condescending, offensive, or a way of avoiding talking about disability. The National Center on Disability and Journalism recommends use of the terms ‘disabled’, ‘disability’ or ‘person with a disability.’ However, language is complex and we suggest asking the disabled person about their preferred terminology.
Check out the Disability Writing & Journalism Guidelines for more guidance on language.
5 Ways to be a Better Ally
01. Check your privilege: ending discrimination starts with self-reflection. What are some ableist ideas that you have or continue to hold?
02. Educate yourself by learning disability history and reading/watching/listening to content created by disabled people. Watch Crip Camp on Netflix and read Disability Visibility by Alice Wong.
03. Make your content accessible by adding image descriptions, captions, transcripts, etc. See our resources below to get started.
04. Actively include the perspective of people with disabilities or ask that they be included.
05. #DiversifyYourFeed by following disabled people and disability-led organizations on social media and amplifying their content. Start with @mia.mingus on Instagram and @Imani_Barbarin on Twitter.
Note that this is a resource for taking the first steps to becoming a better ally, and is not an exhaustive list. To share other ideas and ways to encourage inclusivity, join our online community.
Resources
01. Disabled & Here free stock photos:
02. Disability writing and journalism guidelines:
03. Add captions to your videos:
04. AI transcription service (and record audio as you transcribe):
05. Looking for more digital accessibility resources?
06. Have a resource to share? Email us here.
“Able-bodied people don’t often talk about disability, and the fear of getting something wrong or offensive keeps us from addressing it. We might even accidentally point out that we aren’t as comfortable with disability as we want the world to believe. But these fears shouldn’t stop us from confronting our own biases.”
— "6 ways to be a better ally to people living with disabilities" (Mashable)