Ableism refers to discrimination, prejudice, or social bias against people with disabilities, based on the belief that non‑disabled people are inherently superior.
This includes attitudes, actions, structures, or policies that disadvantage disabled people—whether intentionally or unintentionally.
The term is defined as “discrimination in favour of nondisabled people”.
It can manifest in systemic forms (e.g., inaccessible environments, organisational cultures, policy decisions) as well as everyday behaviours or language. External scholarship highlights that ableism is embedded in social structures, workplaces, services, and assumptions about a “normal” body or mind.
In safeguarding and partnership contexts
Ableism is important to consider in multi‑agency practice because it can influence:
- How practitioners interpret behaviour or communication
- Whether needs (e.g., autism, learning needs, SLCN) are recognised
- How families experience statutory services
- Whether assessments or interventions inadvertently disadvantage disabled children or parents