So you want to be woke on Ability.
Accessibility can be defined as the "ability to access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity and is used to describe the degree to which a product such as a device, service, environment is accessible by as many people as possible.
This is a great article that helps you think about how you feel and how to approach thinking about and expressing your feelings.
To be able to help fight ableism, you need to understand disabilities aren't a negative thing. This article does a great job explaining some of the types of microaggressions people with disabilities face to make you more aware of them so you can call them out when you witness them.
The spoon theory is a disability metaphor used to explain the reduced amount of energy available for activities of living and productive tasks that may result from disability or chronic illness. This article is the origin of the term and a must-read.
This article provides numerous examples of ways in which able-bodied people knowingly and unknowingly discriminate against people with disabilities. It is a good read and an important one to remember.
This site is a great resource to learn about the plight of disabled people, especially disabled women of color. Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, the woman behind the site, has created a list of informative resources for understanding the Black disabled experience.
This article discusses the ways in which racism can affect mental health for people of color.
Psychological research is clear: when people procrastinate, there's usually a good reason. This article discusses the impact of mental illness in academia and life in general.
This article talks about intersectionality of disability, sexuality, race, and class and how it relates to working under a capitalist society.
This article explores a lot of the problems with "inspiration porn", the practice of portraying stories about people with disabilities with those people being inspirational for their work. After introducing examples of this, it provides solid tips for how to write about people with disabilities in a way that is more neutral and reflective of their experiences.
This article provides 10 good examples of ways to support people with disabilities by recognizing your privilege as an able-bodied person. (Note: this article focuses primarily on physical disabilities)
There's a common misconception that people with disabilities (PWD) desire to be "cured." Yet, that is not always the case. Rather than assuming disabilities as something a person wants to ignore, able-bodied people should invest into making society more accessible as well as ensuring equality to the PWD community.
Learn about how the straw ban negatively affects many disabled people through this YouTube video.
Photos above from Unsplash.