Amanda Kraus, Ph. D.AHEAD 2013 – Baltimore, MD

What an inspiration! Exploring Positive Disability Biases and Microaggressions

OutlineOverview of disability history and prevalent

framesDefine and explore ableism and non-disability

privilegeExplore the negative impact of positive biases Identify disability-specific microaggressions

Historical Treatment of Disabled People

Era Societal Perspective Treatment1200 + Possessed by the

devil, sinnerTortured, burned at the stake, left to die

1800 + Genetically defective, inferior

Hidden away, freaks, beggars

1930 + Genetically defective polluting the race

Institutionalized, sterilized, exterminated

1950 + Unfortunate, objects of charity and pity

Institutionalized, rehabilitated

1980 + Independent, self-determined

Independent living centers, civil rights, mainstreaming

Today? Disability as diversity, access is a right, ADA

Social justice, Universal Design, growing attention to sports, community, arts Adams, M. Bell, L.A., &

Griffin, P. (Eds.) (1997) Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook. New York and London: Routledge.

How is disability framed?Frame Core In practiceIndividual • Locate the problem

within the individual• Focus on specific condition/diagnosis• Do not internalize disability as an identity

• Cure or fix problem• Disability is negative • Individual accommodations

Sociopolitical • Locate problem in environment• Barriers exclude disabled individuals and set parameters of disability experience

• Work to identify and eliminate barriers• Disability is neutral• Appreciation for community and culture• Create sustainable change

Ableism and Non-Disability PrivilegeAbleism is a pervasive system of discrimination and

exclusion that oppresses people who have cognitive, emotional, and physical [impairments]

3 characteristics of systems organized around privilege:

Dominated by privileged groups Identified with privileged groups Centered on privileged groups

How do you benefit from your privilege?How do you benefit from your privilege at work?

“Positive” BiasesNegative: Disability people are:

Tragic Pitiful Scary Angry, Chip on their shoulders

“Positive”: Disability people are

Inspiring In need of help or special

attention

stereotype (N) A widely held, fixed, oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing

bias (N) Prejudice or tendency in favor or against one thing, person or group compared with another, usually considered to be unfair

Never ever give up!

Murderball Trailer “This is a lively, life-affirming

documentary no viewer is likely to forget.” – Christian Science Monitor

“Murderball is a paradox: a movie about quadriplegics that insists we look beyond their disability.” - Boston Globe

“Murderball asks you to put all your assumptions about quadriplegics aside and start over.” - Premiere

“The film is filled with humor, compassion and cajones, and never once glosses over the fact that these guys are prickly personalities who can sometimes act like jerks. There are also a few tears, but remarkably, not a single one is shed in pity.” – TV Guide

MicroaggressionsSubtle, stunning, often automatic, and non-

verbal exchanges, “put downs”, dismissive looks, gestures, tones… So pervasive that they are often overlooked or dismissed as innocuous.Microassaults: Explicit derogations meant to

hurt victim (name calling, avoidance, etc.)Microinsults: Words and actions that convey

rudeness, insensitivity, demeaning attitudesMicroinvalidations: Exclude, negate, dismiss

thoughts, feelings or experiences

Disability themesDenial of identity

InspirationDisability as a

choiceAccess as a

privilegeAvoidance

Denial of privacyPatronization/

InfantilizationSpread effectSecond class

citizen/BurdenDesexualization

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

A blind man reports that people often raise their voices when speaking to him.

Spread effect

A person with depression finds it frustrating when people tell her it’s “mind over matter.”

Denial of identity/Choice

A person with scars on his face and body is regularly asked by strangers, “What happened to you?”

Denial of privacy

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

A blind student speaks reminds her professor to email her class notes. The professor responds with, “Ugh, I keep forgetting. Can’t you work with a classmate?”

Second-class citizen, burden

A wheelchair-user opens and pushes through a door. Someone says “Wow, you’re so good with that thing.”

Patronization/Helplessness

Microaggression Theme Message/ImpactSomeone asks a

learning disabled student if he’s faking his disability so he can cheat at the Testing Center.

Denial of identity/Choice

When checking in for a professional conference, a blind woman is called “baby girl” by someone using a cute, soft tone, unlike that she has used with others.

Infantilization

A disabled professional raises a question about access in a meeting and his colleague rolls her eyes.

Denial of identity

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

A wheelchair basketball team is practicing in a public gym. Folks gather to watch and one says, “You guys are such inspirations. I don’t know how you do it.”

Denial of identity/Spread

In response to ASL interpreters in the front of the classroom, hearing students comment, “This is so distracting. If they don’t understand the professor, can’t they go somewhere else?”

Second class citizen/burden/Spread

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

A wheelchair-user and his non-disabled wife are shopping. The salesperson asks, “You brought your assistant with you?”

Helplessness/Desexualization

A student with Autism reports that he is never asked to work on group projects and that his roommate is never around.

Avoidance

A woman using crutches is carrying something to her car. A passer-by asks to help her. She says, “no thank you.” He says, “Are you sure? I haven’t done my good deed for the day!

Secondary gain

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

Someone remarks to a blind man that his outfits always match so nicely!

Helplessness

A wheelchair-user is waiting in line and someone next to her tells her that he totally understands her because he used a wheelchair for a few months several years ago. He goes on to say that he worked really hard and did everything he could to get out of that chair.

Denial of identity

Microaggression Theme Message/Impact

At a professional conference a group of ASL interpreters default to speaking English when there are others present who only sign.

Avoidance/Burden

Two DS professionals are talking about a learning disabled student’s request for classroom accommodations. One says to the other, “ADD and ADHD aren’t even real disabilities. These students are so entitled.”

Denial of identity

Recognize it!

• Admit that disability oppression and microaggressions exist. • Take notice. Reflect on impact.

Listen!

• Honor the experiences of disabled people. Do not get defensive. Check your personal biases.

• Honor outrage. Avoid invalidating or demeaning emotions.

Educate yourself!

• Read books; watch documentaries. Consume media with critical lens. Attend community events.

• Develop a new method.

Take action!

• Consider disability oppression your problem to solve.• Create professional practices and processes that are

consistent with this value. Disrupt practices that are not.

A process for action

Professional roles and responsibilitiesWhere do microaggressive incidents

occur?How do DS professional participate?How do disabled people participate?What are our responsibilities relative to

microaggressions?

References Sue, D.W. (Ed.) (2010). Microaggressions and marginality:

Manifestation, dynamics and impact. . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Sue, D.W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life. Hoboken, NJ: John

Wiley & Sons. Sue, D.W., and Constantine, M.G. (2007). Racial microaggressions as

instigators of difficult dialogues on race: Implications for student affairs educators and students. The College Student Affairs Journal. 26(2), 136-143.

Adams, M. Bell, L.A., & Griffin, P. (Eds.) (1997). Teaching for diversity and social justice: A sourcebook. New York and London: Routledge.

Johnson, A.G. (2006). Privilege, power, and difference. Second edition. McGraw Hill: New York.

Online references http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/sensitive-news-topics/

the-super-crip-stereotype/ http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between-the-lines/201205/the-

dark-side-positive-stereotypes http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201302/the-

pain-positive-stereotypes http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2005/12/16/the-negative-

impact-of-positiv/ http://thesocietypages.org/colorline/2012/07/24/pew-report-on-asian-

americans-a-cautionary-tale/ http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/04/reasons-positive-

stereotypes-are-not-positive/ http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201302/the-

pain-positive-stereotypes