What an inspiration! Exploring Positive Disability Biases and Microaggressions

1. What an inspiration! Exploring Positive Disability Biases and Microaggressions Amanda Kraus, Ph. D. AHEAD 2013 – Baltimore, MD

2. Outline Overview of disability history and prevalent frames Define and explore ableism and non-disability privilege Explore the negative impact of positive biases Identify disability-specific microaggressions

3. Historical Treatment of Disabled People Adams, M. Bell, L.A., & Griffin, P. (Eds.) (1997) Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook. New York and London: Routledge.

4. How is disability framed?

5. Ableism and Non-Disability Privilege • Ableism 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?

6. “Positive” Biases Negative: • Disability people are: • Tragic • Pitiful • Scary • Angry, Chip on their shoulders “Positive”: • Disability people are • Inspiring • In need of help or special attention stereotype(N) A widely held, fixed, oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing bias(N) Prejudice or tendency in favor or against one thing, person or group compared with another, usually considered to be unfair

7. Never ever give up!

10. Murderball Trailer • “This is a lively, life-affirming documentary no viewer is likely to forget.” – Christian Science Monitor • “Murderballis a paradox: a movie about quadriplegics that insists we look beyond their disability.” - Boston Globe • “Murderballasks 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

11. Microaggressions • Subtle, 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 attitudes • Microinvalidations: Exclude, negate, dismiss thoughts, feelings or experiences

12. Disability themes • Denial of identity • Inspiration • Disability as a choice • Access as a privilege • Avoidance • Denial of privacy • Patronization/Infantilization • Spread effect • Second class citizen/Burden • Desexualization

13. 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

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

15. Someone 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

16. 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 Second class citizen/burden/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?”

17. 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

18. 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

20. A process for action

21. Professional roles and responsibilities Where do microaggressive incidents occur? How do DS professional participate? How do disabled people participate? What are our responsibilities relative to microaggressions?

22. 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.

23. 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