TEDx Motivational Speaker, Global Inclusion Leader, Award Winning Disability & Accessibility Advocate | Founder @ The Alycia Anderson Company, LLC
This image has been shared many times over the weekend by advocates, as it should. Regardless of your views, the recent cover of The Economist, depicting a mobility device and questioning ability, is ableism. This kind of imagery perpetuates the old tired myth that someone who uses a mobility device cannot be effective. It shapes public perception on how society values the disabled lived experience. Reminder👇🏼 ✔️ Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of our country’s greatest presidents, led the nation through its toughest times using mobility aids, including a wheelchair. ✔️ Helen Keller was a notable author, activist, and lecturer who was both blind and deaf, co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). ✔️ Judith Heumann was a global disability rights advocate who was instrumental in creating and implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With over a billion disabled people globally, let's not forget that disability is our common ground NOT the thing that separates us. Ableism in media and politics reinforces negative perceptions about people living with disabilities, ultimately leading to policies and a society that neglect, exclude, and limit us. It's time for a change in this outdated narrative because in the end it benefits all of us. 💡 Join in: What are your thoughts on how we can challenge ableism and promote a more inclusive society? #Inclusion #Diversity #Ableism #Leadership #DisabilityAwareness #Disability #RepresentationMatters #Advocacy #TheEconomist #Ableism
As we all know, promoting #disabilityInclusion and #accessibility is a never-ending journey with no finish line. Hopefully this ableist mentality continues to give the disability community even more pride in our abilities, especially on Disability Pride Month! The word "ability" is in "disability" for a reason! Thank you Alycia, and all of the other incredible advocates here on LinkedIn, for bringing attention to this important subject.
Kristin Britton
6mo
That's why we need people with disabilities working in leadership positions across ALL industries as key decision makers. Until that happens, ABLEISM will persist. Hope The Economist comes out with a public statement apologizing for their ignorance.
Lisa L. Catino
6mo
This image perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines the dignity of healthy aging. Let's challenge the misconception that physical perfection equates to intellectual prowess. Scientifically, there's no correlation. True leadership transcends appearances. It's about vision, knowledge, sound decision making, courage, and valor.
This ableist imagery used by The Economist is very disappointing.
Meenu Sikand
6mo
I am extremely disappointed with the editorial board! The ableist narrative being conveyed to readers using this image is completely unacceptable and promotes discrimination toward those with disabilities. TheEconomist Newspaper Limited #disabilityrights #abelism #disabilitydiscrimination #Inclusion #Diversity #Leadership #DisabilityAwareness #Disability #RepresentationMatters #Advocacy #TheEconomist #negativeimages
Alycia Anderson, I cannot agree with you more! I have seen this image from The Economist and realized that the old tropes amplifying #abelism are still prevalent. Rather than seeing these mobility devices as tools that help millions and offer persons with #disabilities a way to navigate an inaccessible world, they use the image through a lens of negative connotation. On top of this, many cultures revere their elderly. Is this not a time to rethink this narrative further
Alex Gill
6mo
I am of the impression that of the best ways is to continue to showcase our capabilities to others. To add another notable name to the list, Jeffrey Erlanger was a disability advocate who worked on the Economic Development Commission in Madison, Wisconsin. Jeffrey was also chair of the Commission on People with Disabilities, and chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Living Alliance.
Artist, Deaf, collaborative art & design, equity, accessibility & inclusion, neurodiverse, MVA USYD, UNSW, 🤟Auslan translation studies, disability leadership, @sydneyartworker
6moWe need mainstream politics and communities to understand that problems for disabled people are everyone's problems because, by age 65, every second person will have a disability. Fear-mongering about disability does nothing but create hate and ableism towards those of us with disabilities, significantly impacting our quality of life and that of our families. Let's replace fear with compassion and understanding. We need to run towards disablement and embrace disabilities if we want the best possible lives lived for ourselves and others. We only fear what we don't know, but by embracing disabilities, we open ourselves to new perspectives and opportunities for personal growth and learning.