Ableist Language Use at the Collegiate Level Presented by Greg Cherry Background of Presenter Undergraduate Institution Bowling Green State University Worked very closely with Dance Marathon raising money for the Childrens Miracle Network April 2010 May 2014 ID: 461809
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Slide1
Addressing Ableist Language Use at the Collegiate Level
Presented by: Greg CherrySlide2
Background of Presenter
Undergraduate Institution: Bowling Green State University
Worked very closely with Dance Marathon raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network (April 2010 – May 2014
)
Served as a Student Worker in the Disability Services Office (February 2012 – May 2014)
Current Graduate Institution: Miami University
Second year masters student – Student Affairs in Higher Education
Assistantship in the Office of Residence Life
Currently hold a practicum with the Student Disability Services OfficeSlide3
During This Presentation. . .
There will be plenty of open discussion.
Audience is encouraged to share their opinions, whether they align with or contradict the views of the presenter.
What will be covered:
Ableism and
ableist
language use, with a heavy emphasis on metaphors.
Strategies, tools, and ideas to address
ableist
language use and create inclusive spaces.
Plausible real-life practice situations.Slide4
Learning Outcomes
Audience members will have an understanding of what
ableist
language is.
Audience members will be able to recognize various metaphors used in everyday language that marginalize the disability community.
Audience
members will be able to engage students and colleagues in dialogue around
ableist
language
use.
Audience
members will know steps on how to create inclusive spaces for students and colleagues with disabilities.Slide5
Ableism and Language
Ableism – The
discrimination or prejudice against individuals with
disabilities
Retrieved from:
http://
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ableism
Ableist
Language – The use of language that discriminates or creates prejudice against individuals with disabilities.
Disability Terminology
Chart:
http://
www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/7-terminology.pdf
- thoughts?
“Disability Studies scholars have critiqued disability metaphors for eliding the embodied lives of disabled people. . .for objectively emphasizing deficiencies, and for representing disability as disorder – all of which reflect back on people with disabilities” (
Vidali
, 2010, p. 35).Slide6
Everyday Ableist Metaphors
“In
my blind spot”
“I’m
so OCD”
“I’m
so ADHD”
“You’re
insane”
“You’re
so lame
”
Lame
: Having a body part and especially a limb so disabled as to impair freedom of movement (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame)
“That’s
so retarded”
Retarded
: Slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retarded) Slide7
How to Address Ableist LanguageThrough Dialogue
Most times, individuals are unaware of the meaning behind their words.
Engage students, staff, and colleagues with the following questions:
“What did you mean by that?”
“Have you thought of how that word could be harmful to others?”
“Let’s unwrap the meaning behind X word and talk about that together”
Audience share - Other suggestions that have worked for you?
It’s easy to get defensive when addressed about language use. Approach conversation through an open dialogue approach.
Not everyone will take your feedback, but you don’t know who may be appreciative of you addressing the situation.Slide8
Creating Inclusive Spaces through Programming
Active:
Movies with closed captioning
School traditions trivia
Learning styles workshop
Guest speaker series
Programming with little to no physical demands
Make sure programming space has physical accessibility (ADA compliant)
Passive:
Bulletin board talking about the history of the ADA
Supplemental handouts in high traffic areas – learning center(s), disability services office, counseling services, etc.
Advertising various office eventsSlide9
Case Study Scenarios
You’re sitting in your office as a group of students pass by. You hear one of the students say, “Man, that test was so easy it was retarded.” You hear another student say, “Yeah. . .” in what sounds to be an uneasy voice. As you look up from your desk, you realize that you recognize both students.
What are your next steps?
What barriers, if any, exist?
During a staff meeting, someone asks where the admissions building is located. Your supervisor leading the meeting says, “Oh, it’s over by the counseling services building, you know, where all the crazies go”. You notice individuals in the room seem to be smiling uneasy.
What are your next steps?
What barriers, if any, exist?Slide10
In Conclusion
Ableist
language is common and ingrained in our society.
There are constructive ways to address
ableist
language use.
While there is what is considered to be appropriate terminology, respect how an individual self-identifies.
Language use is ever evolving.
Never assume an individual’s ability status.
Some individuals have an opportunity to disclose while others do not.Slide11
Questions and/or Comments?Slide12
ReferencesDisability Terminology Chart. Retrieved from:
http
://
www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/7-terminology.pdf
Vidali
, A. (2010). Seeing what we know: Disability and theories of
metaphor.
Journal
of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, 4(1), 33-54
.