end exclusion

This section was an example of the kind of discrimination faced by Disabled Young People every day.

A bit extreme?

Not really. False assumptions are the most common form of discrimination and they are hugely damaging. Assumptions about happiness, intellect, feelings, sexuality, choice. That's in addition to the blatant discrimination of inaccessible services and the violent discrimination of physical and verbal bullies.

Discrimination comes from a lack of understanding of difference and diversity. An unwillingness to challenge boundaries which keep people comfortable.

Fifty years ago, racism and its vocabulary of exclusion was commonplace. In parts of America, it was enforceable by law. Now it is punishable by law.

By contrast, disablism and its vocabulary is still rife. The concepts it sustains are widespread - even to suggest that being Disabled is sometimes a fate worse than death (would doctors discuss aborting babies based on their race or gender?). Continue