WE Are ALL Human: A Deeper Dive Into The Stigma And Discrimination Against Those Who Are Disabled

Magnific, volunteers helping disabled friends in outdoor walking [Illustration]. https://www.magnific.com/free-vector/volunteers-helping-disabled-friends-outdoor-walking_9652120.htm

To be kind is to be seen. There is a huge significance to being educated about what the root of the problem is for people who discriminate against others who are identified as disabled. When knowing the roots of why people discriminate against the disabled population, we can understand the stigma behind it and become more self-aware. When we are self-aware, we can recognize patterns and behaviors within our society, making it easier to connect. Thus, it is good to be aware of how you act towards those whom you view differently. It’s important for those who work 1-on-1 with disabled individuals to be more self-aware about this population and what it’s like from the able and disabled perspectives.

What many individuals may not know is where discrimination starts within the disabled population. It stems from ableism, a belief that projects the perfect human body. Ableism has seeped into various perspectives and is linked to judgment and cognitive processes. As Vasudeva points out, “[I] while recognizing ableism as a cognitive distortion provides valuable insights. It is essential to acknowledge that this framework represents just one aspect of a multifaceted issue” (Vasudeva, A. et al, 2024). Although ableism is considered a cognitive distortion, it offers deeper insights into judgment and cognitive processing; however, this perspective is part of a larger, complex issue. Personally ableism is still a niche issue that has not yet been explored. As the future unfolds, researchers should examine how ableism is linked to broader beliefs.

Virginia commonwealth university, WHAT DOES A SOCIAL WORKER FOR DISABILITY SERVICES DO? [Real Life Example]. https://onlinesocialwork.vcu.edu/blog/disability-social-worker/

It is hard for disabled people to be understood because they are misunderstood and face many challenges that people throw at them. As Dinerstein mentions, “[T] people with mental health disabilities must justify their eligibility for programs or services that others take for granted” (Dinerstein, R. D., 2025). Digging deeper into the idea, those with disabilities are often mistreated or looked down upon due to their advocacy of themselves. When clients with disabilities try to live for themselves yet they get overlooked by others, it will always be heartbreaking, because they believe that they too are normal just like everyone else; in some parts, that is true. It’s important to be considerate and not think of someone differently than you would yourself, because everyone is at a different stage of life.

The idea of someone important being disabled can be mentally draining and can instill fear. Karen Dali mentions that, “A thought of oneself or one’s loved ones having, acquiring, or being born with disabilities can induce severe fear and anxiety […]” (Dali, K., 2018). The idea of ableism can be overstated in this concept, because humans have imagined the perfect human body as lean and agile. These visions build stereotypes that can cause discrimination against those who are physically disabled. Adding on, humans are often judging how well a person can process information, so when a cognitively disabled individual is unable to keep up with an able person, they again stereotype. Connecting this idea to the real world, we can see discrimination, especially within the staff. Although some staff do like working with the disabled population, some staff left the community because they couldn’t handle or imagine themselves in the disabled population, and it may be due to stereotypes.

Disability reinsurance (2025), Understanding invisible disabilities: Beyond what meets the eye [illustration]. https://www.munichre.com/us-life/en/insights/clinical-knowledge/understanding-invisible-disabilities-beyond-what-meets-the-eye.html

To view others who may be different from a positive perspective, a person must be accepting and open to different types of people. Just as Maayan Agmon, Amalia Sa’ar & Tal Araten-Bergman express when, “[I] defining the subjects as “persons” encourages both researchers and caregivers to view people with disabilities in a wider and more comprehensive context […]” (Agmon, M., Sa’ar, A., & Araten-Bergman, T., 2016). Not only does having a non-biased outlook make a difference in research, but it also affects actions and outcomes. When not stereotyping and discriminating against those who are disabled, the able individuals can make stronger connections and learn how to connect with everyone regardless of their background. When walking into the Empowering Health Day center, I can see how the staff treats clients as people, regardless of how their disabilities may affect them. That’s how it should be when working with the disabled population: don’t make them feel dumb or as if they know everything- treat them as you would treat any other person.

Due to different perspectives, people view the disabled population differently. Within society, everyone has different cultural beliefs and perspectives. If people could understand one another more deeply, it would be easier to be self-aware and to understand those who are different. Just because some may be perceived differently does not mean they have less potential; they have the same potential as anyone else in the world. Everyone moves at different rates, like how the leaves blow in different directions and at different speeds, not truly knowing where they’ll land. Always be kind no matter who you talk to, for everyone has hardships in life.

Cited Works

Agmon, M., Sa’ar, A., & Araten-Bergman, T. (2016, September 15). The person in the disabled body:

A perspective on culture and personhood from the margins. International journal for equity in health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5024466/

Dali, K. (2018). The lifeways we avoid: The role of information avoidance in discrimination against

people with disabilities. Journal of Documentation, 74(6), 1258–1273. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-04-2018-0057

Dinerstein, R. D. (2025, March 19). Marginalization within marginalization: The experience of people

with mental disabilities. Human Rights Magazine. American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/human-rights/2025-march/experience-of-people-with-mental-disabilities/

Francis, L., & Silvers, A. (2016). Perspectives on the meaning of “disability” | journal of ethics |

American Medical Association. Perspectives on the

Meaning of “Disability.” https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/perspectives-meaning-disability/2016-10

Olson, R. (2022). Conceptualizing disability: Three models of disability. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/disability-models

Vasudeva, A., Mohanraj, P. S., Tripathi, R., Shrivastava, A. K., & Vardhan, V. (2024). Perceptual filters:

Exploring disability and ableism’s cognitive framework. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 13(11), 4755–4758. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_764_24