Disablism

Disablism is the "discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behaviour arising from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others". This definition has been used by Scope since 2004.

This word has been used by the disability rights movement for many years. We have ‘racism’ and ‘sexism’; why not disablism?

As Scope says, "Unlike racism or sexism you won't find the word disablism in the dictionary but it is all too real in our society."

This word has already been used by the think-tank Demos in its report, Disablism: how to tackle the last prejudice by Paul Miller, Sophia Parker and Sarah Gillinson (ISBN: 1 84180 124 0).

It has also been used by several MPs, John Humphrys in his book, Lost for Words, and, more importantly, by thousands of disabled people who need the word to describe the oppression they face every day.

Read Talking about disability and disabled people.