Ableism and Cerebral Palsy: Everyday Experiences and Their Impact

Encountering ableism can be stressful. So too is thinking about past encounters or anticipating future ones. If not managed well, this stress can negatively affect our mental health and change what we do. For example, expecting to encounter ableism may make us less likely to go out into our communities and talk with others.

Coping with ableism means dealing with the stress of ableism. People with disability have a range of ways to cope with stress. Some people try to hide their disability. Others may see their disability as a positive asset. Some may try to change society so there is less ableism. We thought that people with cerebral palsy might have similar ways of coping with ableism.

In our research, we asked people with cerebral palsy to tell us how they successfully coped with ableism. We were interested in how they coped with ableism in general, in the hours, weeks, months, and years after the encounters. We found that people successfully coped with ableism through:
•    Changing their own thinking about disability and ableism
•    Engaging in everyday activities
•    Seeking social support
•    Making efforts to change society.

They Changed their Thinking about Disability and Ableism
People changed what they thought. Some people learnt more about disability. They learnt about disability rights, the social model of disability, and different types of ableism. People saw ableism as a problem with society, not with them. They thought of ableism as a chance to teach those who were ableist about disability. People saw confronting ableism as a way of reducing future ableism. They also looked upon these situations as providing experiences they could share when teaching other people with disability about ableism.  Sometimes, people had ways of dealing with ableism that they used without realising it.  People also felt closer to others with cerebral palsy and people with disability.

They Engaged in Everyday Activities
People lived life as though they did not have cerebral palsy. In doing so, they asked for help when needed. They were keen to show others they were more than their disability. They showed they had a range of talents and interests.

They Sought Social Support
People looked for help from others who had been treated unfairly. They spoke about ableism with other people with cerebral palsy and people with disability. They also shared their experiences with others who had been treated unfairly, such as some queer and trans folk. Through talking with others, they learnt that they were not the only ones who were treated unfairly. They also felt closer to others who have been unfairly treated. People asked family and friends for support. Some posted on social media about their ableist encounters. People also went to counsellors who knew about disability or were willing to learn about disability. People were careful when choosing counsellors. They said that some counsellors were ableist. 

They Made Efforts to Change Society
People made efforts to change society. They educated others about disability. They taught people with cerebral palsy how to confront ableism. They also advocated for people with disability.

The people involved in this research had successful ways of coping with ableism. They changed their thinking, engaged in everyday activities, looked for social support, and tried to change society. Having a strong sense of themselves as a person with disability helped them to cope with ableism. People thought of their cerebral palsy as something valuable. They also tried to reduce ableism in society. We all could consider using these strategies to cope better with the stress of ableism.

Despite the pervasive presence of ableism in the everyday lives of people with cerebral palsy, our research shows that it is possible for people with cerebral palsy to flip this narrative, take back control, and be part of the societal changes needed to address ableism. We hope the successes of people with cerebral palsy described in this research empowers people with cerebral palsy with the confidence and strategies to recognise, confront, and cope with ableism in their own lives and helps us all to feel proud of who we are.

Authors: Cadeyrn Gaskin, Sue Harris, Finn O’Keefe, Alex Birnie, Debbie Dorfan, Adam Goodridge, and Shelley Spencer on behalf of the Deakin University and Cerebral Palsy Support Network team

If this article has raised issues for you, or you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for free, 24-hour crisis support or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or at www.beyondblue.org.au for telephone or online counselling. In an emergency, call 000.