Racism & Ableism Are Connected
What are racism and ableism?
Racism is discrimination based on race. Ableism is discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities.
A social worker helps one person get access to healthcare, but hundreds of others still face the same barriers. Has the larger problem been solved?
No. Helping one person is important, but the larger system still needs to change.
True or False: Someone must have a disability to advocate for disability rights.
Anyone can advocate for disability rights and challenge barriers affecting disabled people.
A Black person with a disability experiences unfair treatment because of both their race and disability. Why is it important to recognize both?
Since racism and ableism can work together, they create barriers that cannot be fully understood by looking at only one for of discrimination.
A social worker notices that several Black disabled clients are being denied services because of the same unfair agency policy. What should the social worker do besides helping each client individually?
Advocate for changing the policy so it no longer discriminates against clients.
A community organization fights for affordable healthcare, better housing, and access to food. It doesn't call itself a disability-rights organization. Could its work still be part of disability politics?
Yes. These issues directly affect the health, independence, and the well-being of disabled people.
A disability organization makes its building wheelchair-accessible, but ignores complaints of racial discrimination. What important lesson from Schalk's book is the organization missing?
Disability justice must also address racism. Making a building accessible doesn't mean everyone is being treated equally.
Why does Schalk's approach to liberation involve more than teaching people how to overcome their personal struggles?
Since many struggles are caused or worsened by larger systems, including racism, poverty, discrimination, and unequal access to resources. Real change requires addressing those systems.
The Black Panther Party was known for fight racial injustice, but Schalk also discusses its support for disability rights. What does this teach us about social justice movements?
Different struggles for justice are connected. Organizations fighting one form of oppression can also help challenge other forms of oppression, even when disability activism isn't their primary focus.