Purpose


Despite increased intention around diversity, equity, and inclusion, students with disabilities exist at the margins of our vision, design, and investments.


We will further perpetuate inequities if our focus on inclusion continues absent increased understanding and without confronting ableist policies, practices, and beliefs. Across our ecosystem, we need to address knowledge and mindset gaps and co-define our desired outcome around educational equity.


What is ableism?

Anti-AbleistED aligns to a working definition by Talila "TL" Lewis

ABLEISM is a system that places value on people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normality, intelligence, excellence, desirability, and productivity. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in anti-Blackness, eugenics, misogyny, colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism.


This form of systemic oppression leads to people and society determining who is valuable and worthy based on a person’s language, appearance, religion, and/or their ability to satisfactorily [re]produce, excel, and "behave." You do not have to be disabled to experience ableism.


A working definition by Talila "TL" Lewis*; updated January 2021

*developed in community with Disabled Black and other negatively racialized people, especially Dustin Gibson