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Nov 8, 2021

Allyship to Disabled People

How to be a good ally to disabled people/people with disabilities (PWD):

Allyship to disabled people - text reads ableism, inaccessibility, microaggressions, accommodations process, stereotypes. ineffective dispute resolution. How can you be an effective ally? 1. Education, 2. Accessibility, 3. Speak up and advocate. All other text in post.

1) Education!

There are many different forms of disabilities, which can change over time. Even people with the same disability can have very different experiences despite having similar disabilities. Determine how the person wants (whether it be identity-first or person-first) to engage as you talk to them. Learn about ableism, which is the discrimination in favour of the abled.


2) Accessibility

Ensure the content you are producing can reach all audiences for both visible and invisible disabilities.

Some examples: Closed captions on videos/lectures, Color-blind safe figures/images, alternative text for screen readers, ramps or elevators.


3) Advocating

Advocacy does not, and should not, only come from disabled people/people with disabilities (PWD). Abled people have a responsibility to speak up against ableism and provide an accessible space in every possible moment.


4) Continuously evaluate your allyship

Allyship is not just a one-time checklist. Always evaluate where you stand in your allyship and be open to criticism. Mistakes will happen as you're learning so don’t let it discourage you to be an ally.

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