Ableism and Disability Justice

Abstract

This chapter offers a framework for understanding and resisting ableism that is informed by the disability justice movement, by emerging disability identity communities, and by the authors’ lived experiences as chronically ill and disabled activists, writers, cultural workers, and educators. It explores the sometimes contradictory implications of different ways of understanding disability (the medical model, the social model, the disability justice model) and outlines key historical legacies of ableism including the relationships between disability and slavery, colonialism, capitalism, and medical science. It describes and analyzes current manifestations of ableism along with examples of organizing for justice in the areas of healthcare, employment, community life, policing, education, and media. The chapter concludes with a sample curriculum for a workshop on ableism and disability justice, together with reflections on integrating disability justice into pedagogy and facilitation.