Misconceptions, Discrimination, and Disabling Language: Synthesis and Review

Abstract

Misconceptions about various disabling conditions abound in the general population and are related to the presence of socially disabling stereotyping as a cultural phenomenon. Significant levels of misconception have been demonstrated among the population regarding head injuries, epilepsy, and electroconvulsive shock treatment. Public ignorance in these domains is thought to breed a climate ripe for discrimination, and numerous studies have shown that such discrimination does occur in the workplace and, perhaps more important, in the world of everyday discourse. Discrimination patterns are not uniform, however, and all disabling conditions are not alike in their susceptibility to discrimination. This article presents a review of the relationships among misconceptions, employment discrimination, and language discrimination patterns, as these factors function as obstacles to community reentry for many persons with disabilities. Strategies for overcoming the effects of social stereotyping and discrimination are offered, with the goal of educating the professional and rehabilitation communities about unwitting discrimination perpetrated by individuals belonging to these communities.