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Types of Ableism

Microaggresions

Stereotypes, assumptions, media tropes etc

There are many stereotypes, assumption and media tropes about disabled people (like any marginalised community). It’s impossible to list them all but here are some of them:

Helpless Cripple

TV Tropes:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DisabledMeansHelpless⁠

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https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WheelchairWoobie⁠

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This stereotype is mainly found in inspiration porn. This disabled person can’t do anything for themself and depends completely on others. Others are expected to pity them and be thankful that they’re abled

This stereotype is problematic because it dehumanises disabled people to point that we only exist for abled to feel better about themselves. Often this leads to ableds over estimating our need or seeing us as a burden

Super Crip

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I have Autism, Whats your Superpower. Instant Download ...

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[Image discription: Text that reads “I have Autism what’s your superpower” with puzzle pieces floating around in the colours yellow, red and blue. The words “I have” are in blue, “what’s your” is in yellow and “super power” is is in light blue. The S in “super” is replaced with the superman logo. The word “Autism” is in various colours; A is in black, U is in dark blue, T is in red, I is in yellow, S is in light blue and M is in black.]

TV Tropes:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DisabilitySuperpower⁠

(NB: Although Toph from A:TLB is listed as an example, I don’t believe she’s a true Super Crip)

The complete opposite of the helpless cripple; the Super Crip usually portrayed by in fantasy or sci-fi setting. Usually advance technology or magic gives them superpowers that allows them to do everything an abled can and often better.

This may seem like a harmless trope as we don’t in a fantasy or sci-fi world but people often translate this trope to the real world. Of course, in the present at least, disabled people aren’t “cured” nor do we have superpowers, but many ableds believe that we will in the future so there’s no point fighting ableism in the present.

Many ableds also believe that we do have Super Crips in the present. They believe that all Autistic people are savants and certain equipment disabled people use gives them superpowers such as electric wheelchairs. They often look to disabled people who can do cOvertain things better than them, such as paralympics, and believe their disability does not impair them at all. They believe all disabilities can be “cured” with a positive mental attitude. This can applied to all disabled people if they just try hard enough.

All Disabled People Are Asexual

This is a side effect of infantilisation of disabled people. Of course, it is possible for a disabled person to be asexuxal like it is possible for an abled to be asexual. But because sexual attraction is developed during puberty and most countries set an age of consent, infantilisation leads to this stereotype.

Disabled Villain/Disability as an excuse for jerkassy

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Darth Vader | Star Wars Battlefront Wiki | FANDOM powered ...

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[Image description: Darth Vader holding a lightsaber]

TV Tropes:

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https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery⁠

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https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EvilCripple⁠

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In this trope a disabled person is the villain of the story, or in downplayed examples simply a jerk. Usually these people weren’t born disabled. Becoming disabled is usually their motivate for their villainary or jerkassy. They often became disabled by a fight with one of the good guys. They are motivated by revenge.

Of course disabled people need media representation and that includes portrayal of us as “the bad” guy. But this is often our only portrayal and leads to people being afraid of us. While abled villains/jerks often get complex motivations for being a villain/jerkass, disabled villians/jerkasses motivation usually comes for the sole reason that they’re disabled. Real life disabled villains/jerkasses are villains/jerkasses for the same reasons abled villains/jerkasses are. Their disability/disabilities usually has very little to do with their reason, if any at all.

Kindhearted Simpleton

TV Tropes:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KindheartedSimpleton⁠

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The kindhearted simpleton is a stereotype about people with learning disabilities. In this stereotype all people with learning disabilities are “good” disabled people. They are agreeable, kind, nice, warmhearted people and wouldn’t heart hurt a fly.

The problem with their stereotype is that they aren’t just people with learning disabilities who happen to be kind. Their kindheartness comes from their learning disability which gives them a childlike nature that causes them to be kind.

Kindhearted simpleton are often pushovers who never stand up from themselves. They often have other stand up for them but it turns out that they didn’t need to, not because they can stand up for themselves but because ableism, being bullied, abused or harassed doesn’t affect them. This can send a message that disabled people are immune to these so we shouldn’t bother fighting them.

White Cis Male Autism

Autism is represented in the media, especially as more people have became aware that it exists. However autism is a spectrum (which means every Autistic person has different Autistic traits) and anyone from any demographic can be Autistic. In the media there is usually only one “type” of Autistic person portrayed. I like to call it “white cis male autism”:

He is male, sometimes the person who has this type of autism is female, but 90% of the time their male

He is white, I don’t think I know any examples of Autistic BIPOC

He is straight or asexual

He is cisgender

He has little or no empathy

Others dislike being around him finding him awkward weird or even creepy and he dislikes being around most other people

He’s extremely introverted, a loner and doesn’t really care about making friends

He doesn’t express many emotions, expect when he has a meltdown, he prefers to think more logically than emotionally

When he does something sexist, racist, queerphobic, or ableist against someone with a different disability, it’s portrayed that it an Autistic trait and something women, BIPOC, LGBT+ people, people with different disabilities will just have to put up

He has a special interest in a STEM subject or a subject most people find boring such as train tables

Others have “put up” with him because his autism and SI make him a savant and his skills are need by society

Although WCMA can be possible, it is extremely rare. Here’s why

Traits of WCMA and Their Reality

Traits of WCMA and Their Reality

Trait of WSMA

Reality

Being male and white

More people who present as male and white people are likely to be diagnosed Autistic but this mainly comes for white and male privilege in health care. Autism was “discovered” by two white men and one originally didn’t believe that girls and women could be Autistic

Being straight or asexual

I’ve already debunked the stereotype that disabled people are asexual. Autistic people are more likely to be at least openly non-hetrosexual

Being cisgender

Autistic people of course are more like to be cisgender like allistic people, however compare to allistic people we are far more likely to be trans

Having little or no empathy

This stereotype comes from that Autistic people can have trouble with cognitive empathy AKA “reading people”. However we do have emotional and compassionate empathy. There is believe that Autistic people have may actually have stronger compassionate empathy and may be more likely to be empaths.

Others dislike him

A lot of people do dislike Autistic people. This is very real. However in this stereotype, disliking Autistic people is usually justified in someway. It is not ok to dislike someone simply because of their neurotype

Being extremely introverted

Autistic people are no more likely to be introverted that allistic people. Most of us have trouble befriending others because they’re ableist. I think this is something NTs tell themselves so they can justify choosing not to befriend us

Being emotionless

Autistic people are people and have emotions like everyone else! Living in an ableist/NT society means that many Autistic people have mental health issues.

Sexism, racism etc blamed on autism

Autism is not an excuse for sexism, racism etc. Ever! Autistic people are no more likely discriminate than allistics

Special interest in STEM/boring subject

Autistic SIs vary as much as the interests of allistic people. However because of this stereotype Autistic people with a SI in a STEM/boring subject are more likely to be diagnosed

Others have to put up with him because he’s a savant/has special skills

Savant syndrome is very rare. Only about 10% of Autistic people have and that’s an extremely liberal estimate. Autistic people shouldn’t be “put up with”, we should be treated with respect for the same reason we treat others with respect, we’re human beings.

There are no rows in this table

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Overthrowing The Disability

TV Tropes:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThrowingOffTheDisability⁠

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In this trope, a disabled character manages to “overcome” this disability, for example a wheelchair user learning to walk again. This can be a minor plot point or the character’s whole character arc.

The character that manages to “overcome” their disability is usually a “good” disabled person, or learns to be a “good” disabled person as part of their character development. This means that they shut their mouths when being treated unfairly, are passive, kind to everyone and support the professional model of disability. Sometimes they are contrasted with another character who doesn’t manage to overcome their disability. This character is a “bad” disabled person. They can be a generally bad person but they are often only a “bad” disabled person because they stand up for their rights, don’t support the professional model and often support the social model.

Often the character that manages to overthrow their disability wasn’t born disabled. They become disabled as a punishment for being a bad person. The way they learn to “overcome” their disability is by becoming a good person.

Why this trope is problematic depends on how its played. In all cases it reinforces the medical model of disability and the idea that disabled people can be “cured” if they have the right attitude or try hard enough. When the character is a bad person becomes disabled, learns to become a better person then overcomes their disability, it enforces the disabled villain/jerk stereotype and suggests that if disabled people were good enough people they would have overcame their disability by now.

This trope is also against the fight against ableism for two reasons:

The disabled person “overcomes” their disability at the end of the story which suggests that the fight against ableism is pointless as all disabled people can “overcome” their disabilities if they try hard enough

The disabled character who manages to “overcome” their disability is often contrasts with a character who doesn’t. This character is often considered a “bad” disabled person because they are more vocal about disability rights.

Obfuscating Disability

TV Tropes :

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ObfuscatingDisability⁠

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In this trope a character who isn’t disabled pretends to have a disability. The motives of this character varies but can include:

So their enemies can underestimate them

To access things only disabled people should be able to access such as parking spaces, toilet, extra time in exams

So others will care for them

Also it’s often the villain of the story who obfuscates disability, this trope is still problematic. Motivies 1+3 reinforce the “helpless cripple” stereotype. 1-2 suggests that disabled people are treated better in society than ableds. In reality, being disabled makes you part of a marginalised group.

Ableds are obsessed with disabled people “faking”. In UK, to get our benefits and prove we’re “disabled enough” we have to attend an interview, even medical notes are not considered enough. For people with invisible disabilities, they are often harassed by ableds for using disabled exclusive falliacities such as a parking space or toilet.

Language

Many language is considered ableist. This can include words and phrase people use to in place of disability and things they say to disabled people. It’s important to know that ableism is more that just a list of “bad” words/phrases. Ableist language is so integrated into our language that it’s extremely difficult not to use. What language is consider ableist is debated among the disability community.

It can be easy to label any word/phrase with ableist origins as ableist but the word “villain” has classist origins and nobody wants people to stop saying that. Moreover it has completely changed meaning. The same goes for words of ableist origin. I didn’t know until recently that lame was originally a word used to describe someone with a mobility disability.

The following table includes words and phrases that can be considered ableist. It’s important to note that most words here aren’t considered slurs.

Further reading:

https://www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html⁠

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https://web.archive.org/web/20080201062625/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/yourspace/worstwords/topten.shtml

Words/Phrases considered ableist

Words/Phrases considered ableist

Word/phrase

Why can this be considered offensive?

What should be used instead in?

Aspie/Asperger’s/ Asperger’s syndrome/has Asperger’s/person with Asperger’s

Asperger’s is a functioning label. It’s named after a Nazi doctor who committed genocide against Autistic people.

Autism

Autistic person

Autistic (as a insult)

It’s not offensive to say that someone is Autistic if they actually are Autistic. Is offensive when used as an insult. It can be used as general insult, but is often used to mean “self centred” or “lacking empathy”

Any general insult not on this list

Autism level 1/2/3, classic autism, high functioning (autism), kanner’s, low functioning autism, mild autism, severe autism

These are functioning labels. I wrote an 8 page essay on the problems with functioning labels you can read

here

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Autism

Autistic person

Describing the Autistic person’s specific additional needs

Bipolar

Offensive when used to describe something/someone that switches very rapidly from extreme to the other or indecisive. It isn’t offensive when referring to someone with bipolar disorder

Extreme/polar opposites

Indecisive

Switch(ing from one extreme to the other)

Switches rapidly

Torn

Blind to/turn a blind eye to/blinded by

Refers to Blind people, trivialises their experiences, implies that Blind people are ignorant

Deliberately/ purposely ignoring

Feigning ignorance

Turning [possessive noun] back on

Willfully ignorant

Bonkers/Cuckoo/ Crazy/Cray Cray (also AAVE)/Headcase/Mad/Maniac/Mental /Insane/Nuts/

Refers to people with mental illness, trivialises their experiences, associates their experiences with sterotypes

Confusing

Eccentric

Extreme

Lives on the edge

Risk-taking

Irrational

Illogical

Impulsive

Odd

Off the rails

Out of control

Original

Quirky

Risk taking

Thrill seeking

Unpredictable

Weird/a weirdo

Wild

Borderline

This is offensive when used to describe someone who’s abusive, manipulative etc. It is not offensive when used to describe someone who actually has borderline personality disorder or something that is borderline e.g. “this is a borderline illegal”

Abusive

A bully

Cunning

Corrupt

Evil

Gives mixed signals

Insidious

Lacks empathy

Manipulative

Malevolent

Mean

Nefarious

Scary

Toxic

Unpleasant

Unstable

Villainous

Bound to a wheelchair, confirmed to a wheelchair, wheelchair bond

Many wheelchair users consider their wheelchair liberating since they enable freedom of movement. What they consider restrictive is building and intrasctruce being unacessible

Full time wheelchair user

They use a wheelchair

Wheelchair user

Brave

Context is important here. It’s not offensive when a disabled person did something generally brave but is usually used in inspiration porn.

Crippled/Crippled by

Refers to people with mobility disabilities and the physically disabled, often used as a metaphor thus trivializing the ableism they experience

Not as a metaphor:

Disabled

Person with a mobility disability

Person with [specific mobility disability]

Physically disabled

[Mobility aid] user

As a metaphor:

Frozen by

Impaired by

Limited by

Options limited by

(Deaf and) dumb

Used to refer to d/Deaf people. Now used as a metaphor for unintelligent, implying that d/Deaf are unintelligent or have a learning/intecutal disability.

Dim-witted

Injust

I disagree because...

Ignorant

Illogical

Irrational

Risky

Silly

This is bad because...

Unfair

Uninformed

Unintelligent

Deluded/delusions

This isn’t ableist or offensive when refers to genuine delusions experienced by the mentally ill. Is it ableist and offensive when referring to someone being unrealistic or having an irrational belief.

Disconnected from reality

I disagree because...

Idealistic

Ignorant

Illogical

Irrational

Living in Cloud Cuckoo Land

Living in a fantasy world

Pie in the sky fantasties

Uninformed

Unintelligent

Unrealistic

Depressed/depressing

This isn’t ableist or offensive when used to describe a state of genuine depression, usually by the mentally ill. It is offensive when used as a synonym for sad

Disappointed

Devastated

Fed up

Sad

Upset

Differently abled

Euphemism used to avoid saying “disabled”

Disabled

Disabled person

Person with a disability (if prefered by the person)

Freak/Freaky

Linked to Freak Shows, which used to be the only real employed for disabled people. They were displayed for people to mock and laugh at.

Creepy

Eccentric

Shifty

Suspicious

Spooky

Unusual

Weird

Free from one’s wheelchair

Used when a wheelchair user dies. “At least their free from their wheelchair”. Suggests that it’s better to be dead than disabled

I’m sorry for your loss

RIP

Daft/Idiot/Imbecile/ Moron/Stupid

Refers to people with intellicutal/learning disabilities.

Injust

I disagree because...

Ignorant

Illogical

Irrational

Risky

This is bad because...

Unfair

Uninformed

Unintelligent

Hanicap(ped)

Originates from horse racing where the umpire decrees the superior horse should carry extra weight as a "handicap”; thus putting disabled people in the same league as horses.

When referring to people:

Disabled person

Person with a disability (if they prefer person first language)

To refer to facilitatities only disabled people should use such as parking spaces, toilets etc:

Accessible [faciitaty]

Disabled [facilitatity]

Disabled-only

[facilitaty] for the disabled

[facilitaty] for disabled people

Inspiration

Often disabled people are considered an inspiration just for living, this is called inspiration

None, just don’t call disabled people inspirations or say we’re inspiring.

Lame

Often used as metaphor, however originated for a word used to describe people with mobility disablities

When not used as a metaphor:

Physically disabled

Person with a mobility disabled

Person who finds it difficult to walk/can’t walk

[mobility-aid] user

Person who uses [mobility aid]

When used as a metaphor:

Boring

Dull

Disinteresting

Monotonous

Inadequate

Lously

Unpleasing

Uncool

Loony bin/mad house/nut house

Refers to an institution or hospital for people with mental health problems/illness. When people use these words they are saying that someone should be locked away from society.

Mental health hospital

Mental health facility

Mental health institution

Mental health inpatient centre

Manic

This isn’t ableist or offensive when referring to someone with bipolar who’s actually experiencing a manic state/episode. It is offensive when used to describe someone very happy/high.

Having a burst of energy

Happy

High(-energy)

Hyper

Talkactive

Multiple personalities

This is ableist when used to imply or state that a person is double-dealing, two-faced, manipulative, deceptive, or changing rapidly. When used to describe someone with DID, it depends on what language they prepare.

Backstabbing

Cunning

Deceitful

Double-dealing

Hypocritical

Insincere

Scheming

Manipulative

Two-faced

Naracessic

Narcassism is a geniue personality disorder. When used as a metaphor it creates stereotypes

Abusive

Big headed

Cunning

Egotistical

Evil

Full of oneself [importance]

Loves oneself

Manipulative

Thinks one is better than everyone else

Retard(ed) -tard (e.g. libtard)

Refers to people with intellectual/learning disabilities. Used to dehumanize them

Injust

I disagree because...

Ignorant

Illogical

Irrational

Risky

This is bad because...

Unfair

Uninformed

Unintelligent

OCD

Not consider ableist/offensive when referring to OCD/people with OCD. Considered ableist/offensive when used as a synonym for fastidious

(Extremely/overly/too) clean

Fastidious

Meticulous

(Extremely/overly/too) neat

(Extremely/overly/too) tidy

One has something wrong with them

Used someone is ignorant or has a different opinion e.g. “How can you not like this movie?You must have something wrong with you!”

Living in a cave

Living under a rock

-Phobic suffix (e.g. homophobia, islamophobia, transphobia)

Not considered ableist if used to describe someone has a genuine phobia. Is considered ableist if used to describe a “phobia” that is really prejudice, discrimination or marginalisation against a demographic or something some dislikes or find unpleasant

When used to describe something one dislikes/finds scary:

Afraid

Dislikes

Hates

Scared

When used for bigory:

Anti-[demographic] (e.g. anti-trans)

Bigoted against [demographic] (e.g. bigoted against bisexual people)

Cissexism (instead of transphobic)

Discrimination of [demographic] (e.g. discrimination of pansexual people)

[Demographic] discrimination (e.g. transgender discrimination)

-hating (e.g. gay-hating)

Hatred of [demographic) (e.g. hatred of gay people)

Marginalisation of [demographic] (e.g. maraglisation of asexual people)

-misia (e.g. islamomisia)

Prejudice against [demographic]

Psychotic

Not consider ableist/offensive when referring to someone experiencing psychosis. It is ableist/offensive when used as a methapor.

Confusing

Freaky

Eccentric

Extreme

Lives on the edge

Risk-taking

Irrational

Illogical

Impulsive

Odd

Off the rails

Out of control

Original

Quirky

Risk taking

Thrill seeking

Unpredictable

Weird/a weirdo

Wild

Psycho(path)

Psychopathy is a genuine personality disorder. Stereotypes about people with PPD are just.. stereotypes

Abuse

Bully

Cunning

Corrupt

Evil

Lacks empathy

Manipulative

Malevolent

Mean

Nefarious

Scary

Toxic

Unpleasant

Unstable

Villainous

Shizo / Shizophrenic

Not ableist went used to refer to someone who is actually schizophrenic. Is ableist went used as a metaphor.

Confusing

Freaky

Eccentric

Extreme

Lives on the edge

Risk-taking

Irrational

Illogical

Impulsive

Odd

Off the rails

Out of control

Original

Quirky

Risk taking

Thrill seeking

Unpredictable

Weird/a weirdo

Wild

Spastic

Slur used against people with cerebral palsy. Often used as a metaphor, usually as general insult

Not as a metaphor:

Person with cerebral palsy

As a metaphor:

Any general insult not on this list

Special (needs)

Used as a euphemism for disability. Implies that our additional needs are optional to be met. Also considered a form of infantilisation

Additional needs

Disabled person

Support needs

Person with a disability (if that’s what they prepare)

Suffers from [disability]

Very strongly suggests that being disabled means that life is unfulfilling. Also suggests that it’s our disabilities that cause us to suffer, not ableism This isn’t ableist if it’s a disabled person’s choice.

Disabled person

Person with a disability (if that’s what they prepare)

Window-licker

Originates from the believe that disabled people glued their faces to windows of the bus when on day trips. Often used to insult disabled people but can also be used as a general insult

Any general insult not on this list

Wheelchair

Not consider ableist/offensive when referring to the mobility aid. Is considered ableist/offensive when used to refer to a wheelchair user.

Disabled person

Person with a disability (if that’s what they prefer)

Person who uses a wheelchair (if that’s what they prefer)

Wheelchair user

There are no rows in this table

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Person First and Identity First Language

Further information

There are usually to ways to refer to a disabled person - person first language (PFL) and identity first language (IFL). Below is a table of the difference between

Person First vs Identity First Language

Person First vs Identity First Language

Person First

Identity First

They have a disability

They are disabled

Person with autism

Autistic person

People with disablities

Disabled people

There are no rows in this table

⁠

Arguments for identity first language include:

Arguments for person first language include:

Person first language suggests that people with disabilities are people first

What language a disabled person depends on what disabilities they have.

The following people usually prepare IFL:

Autistic people

Blind people

d/Deaf people

People with intellectual and learning disabilities tend to prepare PFL.

In general use IFL by default, expect when referring to people with intellectual/learning disabilities when PFL should be used by default. Individuals tend to have their own preferences and if you aren’t sure, ask them, they will likely appreciate it.

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