Ableism is the discrimination against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. Ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ or ‘curing,’ and does not see disability as a valued aspect of diversity.  

Lewis, L. T. (2021). A working definition of ableism. https://www.talilalewis.com/blog/january-2021-working-definition-of-ableism

While some people in the disability community prefer to use person-first language (e.g., “people with disabilities”), others prefer identity-first language (e.g., “disabled people”). Identity-first language puts the disability first in the description and is commonly used by many disabled self-advocates because they identify disability as part of their identity.  How a person chooses to self-identify is their choice and should always be respected. For more information on Identity-first language visit the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network website.

The social model of disability promotes the idea that a person isn’t disabled because of their disability, health condition, or ways in which their body-minds don’t fit society’s norms. Rather, the social model promotes the idea that it is society’s physical, environmental, attitudinal, and digital barriers that exclude people with disabilities. To learn more, visit the UCSF Office of Developmental Primary Care resources on the Medical and Social Models of Disability.