Ableism is the automatic assumption that everyone is able-bodied and describes a form of discriminatory or exclusionary thinking or practice in favour of those who are able-bodied.
Ableism is best defined as an outcome of a preference or a bias being shown towards providing goods, services or the design or accessibility of facilities, in favour of those who are able-bodied. Ableism can sometimes be used interchangeably with the terms ‘disablism’ or ‘disablist’ which relate to the active discrimination of - or targeting of - disabled people. Ableism is explicitly focussed on the specific lack of thought or consideration for, and of, disabled people.
Ableism can manifest itself in employment as well. In the UK the rate of unemployment for those with a disability is almost twice as high as for those without one (6.2% as of 2023). Those with disabilities face challenges getting employed as well as feeling included in the workplace.
