Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 6:50PM The ShapingProgress mission will work when all voices are heard, especially those of people with disabilities. Take a moment to share what you think.
Below are several discussion topics. For general comments, please reply to the "Discussion Forums" comment thread.
If you would like to propose a new Forum topic, email us at shapingprogress@gmail.com.
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 6:48PM *How do you experience able-bodied privilege - the benefits or the costs? When we think about ableism, we often see the disadvantages of disability but the advantages of able-bodiedness. What are some of your thoughts about able-bodied privilege?
*Why do you think it is more common to discuss the disadvantages of people with disabilities than the privileges of able-bodied persons?
*Once you recognize that able-bodied people have privileges that are denied to people with disabilities, how do you then become newly accountable?
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 6:40PM *Some say it is new to hear that our personal prejudices and bigotry have no power to enforce ableism, but that insitutions do have that power. What is your experience hearing this? Do you see supporting institutional change over an individual approach?
*Ableism can operate in institutions on five levels: 1) attitudes and actions of personnel, 2) policies, 3) practices, 4) structures, 5) foundation. Can you cite where you have seen ableism operate in an institution and the level it operated on - inentionally or unintentionally?
*It is easy to see why people with disabilities want to eliminate ableism. What catalyst would motivate non-disabled people and institutions who benefit from able-bodied privilege also to see the benefit in eliminated ableism in our institutions?
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 6:11PM *In the years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has come into use, with its intention to level the playing field for people with disabilities in the United States, in what ways have you seen it work - or not work?
*It is our view that there is nothing to indicated that real diversity is the same thing as proportionate representation. What are your thoughts?
*Does the ADA need to be changed - or does it need to be replaced by something else? What, for example?
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 5:40PM *Are we on the verge of another disability civil rights movement? Have we made enough progress to believe we are on our way to eliminating ableism?
*What are some efforts to eliminate ableism institutionally that we see today?
*If it is true that the strategy "let's all get along" does not eliminate ableism, what do you think needs to be done to eliminate ableism? What do you see yourself doing?