
People with disability continue to experience significant barriers to social inclusion, equal opportunity in education and employment, discrimination in health and housing, and lack of financial security. This is despite reforms and legislation to protect against these unfair outcomes.
It’s the attitudinal and systemic discrimination that legislation can’t protect against. These are the barriers that people with disability fight against everyday. It’s called ableism.
In this course we’ll look at ableism in Australia, why it happens and what needs to change.
On completing this course, learners will have an understanding of:
- Ableism in Australia;
- Where disability prejudice comes from;
- What ableism looks like in the community, and
- How to take a stand against ableism.
Lessons
Ableism in Australia
Where does disability prejudice come from?
The root of prejudice is ignorance and this is true for disability. History tells a dark shameful story of institutionalised abuse and neglect that continues to be unacknowledged to this…
Impact of ableism
It’s time to meet Abbey, who has a disability, and Zoe, who doesn’t. Let’s see how their life journeys differ.https://youtu.be/UMSj7Jx5QmoYou’ve seen the effects of ableism throughout Abbey’s life. So how…
Meet the Ableism Hotline Team
The Ableism Hotline is a fictional workplace with a team of highly skilled operators with lived experience in everyday ableism. The scenarios cover a range of common settings that are…
An afterthought – Disability and accessibility
In 2018 the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health did a survey asking the community what they thought about people with disability. Two out of every five participants…
But can they even do the job? – Ableism in employment
The Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health survey also asked about employment. One in five participants agreed or strongly agreed that employers should be allowed to refuse to…
Special needs – Ableism at school
Only three in five respondents agreed or strongly agreed that schools are accepting of people with disability when asked this question in the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and…
Can you even look after yourself? – Ableism and parenting
Nearly 20 percent of participants agreed or strongly agreed that people with disability should not raise children, according to the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health survey on…
Kindness fatigue: Everyday ableism
One of the most challenging issues surrounding ableism is the fact that, in most instances, it’s well meaning people who don’t think twice about asking awkward, tactless questions and comments…
From ableist to ally
Ableism is so deeply entrenched in society, that it takes time and effort to see if for what it is, and to appreciate the effects it has on the lives…
Conclusion
Congratulations you have reached the end of the course on Ableism. Here’s a recap on what you have learnt:Where ableism is rife in Australia;What ableism looks like in a variety…