BIAS AND DISABILITIES
Podcast
BIAS AND DISABILITIES WITH DR. MICHAEL BÉRUBÉ
Click here to listen to or follow the transcript from the podcast.
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About
BIAS AND DISABILITIES
The United States, especially before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, has segregated people with disabilities from people who have been deemed to be disability-free. Thankfully, more efforts are underway to not only integrate people with different abilities into broader aspects of society, especially through initiatives like like universal design. Still, most schools, places of work, and other social settings can find ways to increase inclusion for people of all abilities.
Non-Exhaustive Reading and Media List
LEARN MORE ABOUT BIAS ANDÂ DISABILITIES
1. 4 Ways to Hire More People with Disabilities
2. Don't Let My Son Plunge Off the "Disability Cliff" When I'm Gone
3. How to Teach Children about Disability at Every Age
4. Life as We Know It
Reflection
YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH BIAS AND DISABILITIES
1. What were your experiences when it comes to disabilities among the people you knew? How does this compare to your parents' and younger generations of people's experiences?
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2. What is your level of comfortability around someone who has a disability?
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3. What could be done differently in your family, workplace, and other social settings to include people of all abilities?
Action Ideas
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIESÂ IN YOUR COMMUNITY
1. What opportunities exist for people with disabilities in your community? In other words, what resources are available for children, adults, and older adults? Are adults with intellectual disabilities able to find jobs that are meaningful to them? Find ways to support efforts to increase visibility and normalization of different abilities.
2. It's one thing to teach ourselves and younger people around us to be kind to everyone. But how do you do that and teach that in a way that doesn't marginalize or infantilize a person? How do you balance acknowledging a disability without using it to define that person? Find ways to address this in the social circles you inhabit.
Support the Work
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO DISABILITIES
12 Organizations for People with Disabilities You Should Know
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While the linked article suggests some charity organizations, you should also look into local efforts to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in your community.