Disability Wellness

An ism is a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, practice or dynamic amongst humanity. Isms abound in human society. An ism can be created by deliberate design, or by default, and viewed as a positive or negative dynamic in society. Liberalism, chauvinism, feminism, agism, conservatism, environmentalism, fundamentalism, socialism, sexism, alcoholism, nationalism, and racism, are but a few examples. To have an identity, a particular ism must be perceived or envisioned as having a sort of apartness or separate identity from the rest of society. It often becomes rooted in fear. Isms are also usually associated with some form of politicizing and polarization of an identified group. Disability easily attracts a variety of isms because of the way we view it in society. Unfortunately those isms are usually of a negative character, which one might say can be generally categorized as Otherism.  However, there are three specific and prevailing isms that persons living with circumstances of disability have to experience in society: Those three isms are:

Disablism: the prevailing attitude of otherness and inferiority attributed to persons seen or deemed as disabled in society. This attitude is reflected in the various forms of disablements, barriers, and preclusions that persons affected by circumstances of disability have to endure in their lives. Disablism is essentially systemic societal discrimination and prejudice toward persons seen or deemed to be disabled. Disablism fosters humiliation of a person with circumstances of disability.

Disabilitism: the identification, politicising, and commodifying, of the presence, needs, interests and abilities of persons with circumstances of disability. Disabilitism is a reflection of societal responses to the presence, needs, interests, and abilities of persons with circumstances of disability. It tends to be reduced or converted into a business and/or political strategy in society; often plagued by tokenism, and ultimately facilitating what many people with circumstances of disability term as a culture of dependence. Disabilitism preserves itself through collectivism and fear in its responses to addressing the needs of persons with circumstances of disability.

Disabledism: the conditioning of a person with circumstances of disability, or seen or deemed as disabled, or being seen and treated as disabled. Disabledism is the state of a person affected by circumstances of disability becoming resigned and believing themselves to be disabled. The characteristic traits of Disabledism are guilt, anger, resentment and self-pity. Unfettered Disabledism can lead to rationalization of itself, Disablism, and Disabilitism. Persons with circumstances of disability falling prey to disabledism can also easily fall prey to victimism.

Disabilism, Disabilitism, and Disabledism tend to be self-culturing and self-perpetuating dynamics associated with disability. They are the foundations of a prevalence of unwellness and disempowerment amongst persons affected by circumstances of disability. They are prone to preserving the status quo when it comes to addressing disability interests in society.