Disability Bias
This term describes a pervasive system of discrimination and exclusion that oppresses people that have mental, emotional and physical disabilities.
What is ableism?
This feature allows wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments to enter a building.
What is a ramp?
This language approach prioritizes the individual before the disability, such as saying “a person with cerebral palsy.”
What is person-first language?
This disability rights slogan emphasizes that people with disabilities should be the decision-makers in policies affecting them.
What is "Nothing about us without us"?
This PT document states, "Physical Therapists shall act in a respectful manner toward each person regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, social or economic status, sexual orientation, health condition, or disability."
What is the Code of Ethics (Principle IA)?
This term describes the automatic tendency to view disability as inherently negative or as a personal tragedy.
What is fundamental negative bias?
Employers can create inclusive workplaces by offering these adjustments for employees with disabilities.
What are reasonable accommodations?
Some disability communities prefer this type of language, which places the disability before the person, such as “autistic person.”
What is identity-first language?
This movement, which promotes acceptance of disability as a natural part of human diversity, often encourages the use of identity-first language.
What is the disability pride movement?
This framework includes the physical environment, access to transportation, stigma, and government policies among contextual factors that determine disability.
What is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)?
This is a type of behavior where non-disabled individuals assume that people with disabilities need constant help or cannot make their own decisions.
What is paternalism?
Providing closed captions or sign language interpretation at events ensures accessibility for this group.
Who are deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals?
This term refers to words and phrases that unintentionally reinforce negative stereotypes about disability, such as “lame” or “crippled.”
What is ableist language?
This phrase describes workplaces that claim to value diversity but fail to provide meaningful accommodations.
What is performative inclusion?
This PT document states, "Physical Therapists shall recognize their personal biases and shall not discriminate against others in physical therapist practice, consultation, education, research and administration."
What is the Code of Ethics (Principle 1B)?
This practice encourages healthcare providers to acknowledge the limits of their knowledge and remain open to learning from disabled individuals.
What is intellectual humility?
Elevators should have these features to make them accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals.
What are braille labels and audio announcements?
Using terms like “differently-abled” instead of “disabled” can be problematic because it does this.
What is minimizes the realities of disability and erases systemic barriers?
This protest in 1977, where disabled activists occupied federal buildings for nearly a month, led to the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
What is the 504 Sit-In?
Embracing intellectual humility can help physical therapists address these unconscious negative attitudes toward people with disabilities.
What are implicit biases?
To combat ableism, medical professionals should engage in this type of behavior to recognize their biases.
What is critical self-examination/ critical self-reflection?
Before designing accessibility policies, organizations should take this critical step to ensure effectiveness.
What is consulting disabled individuals?
The principle that disabled people should have the right to define their own identity and language preferences.
What is self-identification?
This disability rights protest in which 1,000 activists with disabilities physically crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol building to highlight the lack of accessibility and push for legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What is the Capitol Crawl?
The principle that considers disability as a natural part of human diversity and promotes an inclusive society for all.
What is disability justice?