Glossary of Terms
This is a plain language glossary for those unfamiliar with CDS and related terminology. This glossary has been adapted and expanded from the Next to Lead project (Yoshida, O’Neill & Shanouda, Ontario Trillium Foundation, 2016-19).
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Ableism
Pronounced: ay-bull-ism
Definition: Any beliefs, attitudes, or actions that favor “able-bodied” or non-disabled people and ignore, exclude, or limit disabled people
Example: When designing a new building, no one thinks to make sure the space can be easily used by physically disabled people. This ableism could result in an inaccessible building without ramps, automatic door openers, accessible washrooms, or wide doorways.
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Disability Justice
Pronounced: dis-a-bill-i-tee just-iss
Definition: A movement that centres the experiences of disabled people who have been historically excluded from disability culture, disability rights, and disability studies. This includes disabled people of colour, refugees and immigrants, and people who identify as 2SLGBTQI+.
Example: For critical disability studies to be an equitable discipline, it must incorporate principles of disability justice.
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Discrimination
Pronounced: dis-krim-in-nay-shun
Definition: Treating someone differently or poorly based on their race, sex, ability, national origin, age, or other characteristics.
Example: I experienced discrimination when the waiter asked my friend questions about what I want or need, instead of talking to me.
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Eugenics
Pronounced: you-jenn-icks
Definition: The study or practice of improving or perfecting the genetic quality of the human species. Eugenics aims to produce the strongest, most flawless humans. It is scientifically wrong and rooted in racism and ableism.
Example: Eugenics has been used to stop disabled people from having children.
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Independent Living Movement
Pronounced: in-dee-pen-dint liv-ing move-mint
Definition: A worldwide movement of people with disabilities working together to establish equal opportunities, independence, and respect for disabled people in society.
Example: I have a learning disability and I want to live in my own apartment. The Independent Living Movement helped me get the accommodations and support I need to live in my own place.
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International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPD)
Pronounced: in-ter-nash-un-all day of pee-pull with dis-a-bill-it-ees
Definition: Led by the United Nations, IDPD is a day to celebrate disabled people and increase understanding of disabled people’s rights as human rights, human value, dignity, and well-being.
Example: On December third, the International Day of People with Disabilities, I will share my story about accessing accommodations at work to increase awareness about disabled people in the workforc.
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Intersecting/Intersectional
Pronounced: in-ter-seck-ting/in-ter-seck-shun-al
Definition: How systems of oppression and discrimination affect people in different ways depending on experiences related to multiple overlapping marginalized social identities.
Example: Learning through disability justice helps us understand how intersecting identities affect the experiences disabled people have in society.
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Medical Model of Disability
Pronounced: med-ic-al maw-dull of dis-a-bill-it-ee
Definition: The medical (or individual) model of disability thinks of disability as problem within a person’s body or mind. Thinking of disability with a medical model understanding leads to trying to correct the problem by providing solutions to ‘fix’ the person. These solutions could be medical, behavioural, or any treatment that tries to change the person.
Example: My doctor wants to prescribe medication to improve my focus and attention. She believes that my difficulty learning comes from struggles in my brain, which is an example of thinking about disability from a medical model of disability.
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Mobilizing
Pronounced: mo-bill-eye-zing
Definition: Gathering people together to move toward a specific purpose.
Example: By mobilizing critical disability studies into non-critical spaces, we can create change toward more equitable treatment of disabled people.
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Multidisciplinary
Pronounced: mull-tee-diss-ip-lin-air-ee
Definition: People from many different disciplines, or fields of study, working together.
Example: I work with a multidisciplinary team of scholars from medicine, rehabilitation, medical humanities and disability activists.
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Normalcy
Pronounced: nor-mull-see
Definition: The idea of what is normal. ‘Normal’ refers to what is most common, most accepted, or expected in society. The idea of normal comes from the idea of eugenics.
Example: Society expects that normal bodies can stand and walk, with two arms and two legs. Since I don’t walk but instead use a wheelchair, I don’t fit societal ideas of normalcy.
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Oppression
Pronounced: oh-presh-un
Definition: Cruel and unfair treatment that occurs over a period of time and stops someone from being able to do things in society.
Example: People with disabilities are often oppressed because they are denied opportunities and treated like their disability makes them less of a human being.
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Social Model of Disability
Pronounced: soesh-al maw-dull of dis-a-bill-it-ee
Definition: The social model of disability thinks of disability as a problem with society. Thinking of disability with a social model understanding would recognize how barriers in society lead to disablement. Thinking of disability with a social model understanding leads to trying to correct the problem by removing societal barriers. These solutions could be attitude changes about disability, creating accessible spaces, or any action that tries to change the environment rather than the person.
Example: My teachers recognize that the education system isn’t set up to teach all different learners. They use the social model of disability to understand that my learning can be helped by changing the way I am taught, like by giving me extra time and providing information in lots of different ways.
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Sterilization
Pronounced: stare-ill-eyes-ay-shun
Definition: Sterilization refers to any medical procedure that purposefully makes a person not be able to have children. Sterilization was often done for eugenic reasons.
Example: Society worried that disability could be passed from a parent to child, so doctors used sterilization to stop disabled people from having children.
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