Nothing About Us Without Us - Disability and Ableism 101

Over 27% of the U.S. population identifies has having one or more disabilities or impairments, yet people with disabilities and those who identify as disabled are often left out of conversations around diversity and inclusion. This workshop will cover some of the history of language used by and about this community, what ableism is (as well as able-bodied/neurotypical privilege), ways to dismantle these types of oppression so ingrained in various systems, and ways that to create more inclusive programs, conferences, classrooms, offices, and health care to ensure that all members of this community are able to engage. Participants will learn about ways ableism has been historically used to oppress disabled bodies, what ableist microaggressions are (and ways to interrupt/engage them), discuss the concept of disability justice, create action items to leverage their own privilege, and more.