Is your way of “helping” feeding into benevolent ableism?

 

Let’s talk about benevolent ableism. 

First, what is benevolent ableism? Let’s start with defining ableism. Like racism, ableism is a societal issue where people are discriminated against because of their disability.  

Benevolent ableism is when individuals, typically with good intentions, set apart people with disabilities (often unintentionally) by trying to help, but in doing so, feed into stigmas that people with disabilities aren’t as “able” as everyone else. Below are some examples of how service providers may exhibit benevolent ableism. 

Benevolent ableism in action 

• Restricting your consumer to low-level employment options rather than all types of jobs they are qualified for, including upper-level positions.  
• Making decisions for your consumer rather than supporting the consumer to make their own decisions.  
• Overly praising an individual for completing a simple task. 
• Making assumptions about what tasks your consumer can’t do rather than asking them. 
• Not giving constructive criticism for a fear of hurting a consumer’s feelings.  

As a service provider, it’s important you empower the people you work with and provide the assistance that’s required of your job without crossing the line into benevolent ableism. The easiest way to change these behaviors is to embrace inclusion and treat all individuals like equals, disability or not. Learn more about how you can change the culture in your workplace and encourage other service providers to do the same. 

Below are some great resources to begin learning more about benevolent ableism:  

• Benevolent Ableism exists, and here is what you need to know about it.  
• Benevolent Ableism: when help isn't helping.  
• What is the relationship between disability employment and ableism?  
• Service Provider Resources

About Hire Me SC 

People with disabilities can work, want to work, and should be afforded every opportunity to work. Powered by Able South Carolina and SCDEC, Hire Me SC is a campaign that promotes a culture of inclusion across the state of South Carolina, one in which employment for every individual, disability or not, is the norm rather than the exception. Learn more at www.hiremesc.org.