According to last year’s Family Resources Survey, an estimated 14.6 million people live with a disability in the UK, making it one of the largest minority groups in the country. Yet despite how prevalent disabilities are, those living with them are still susceptible to prejudice, stereotyping, and lack of accessibility daily.
This ignorance highlights the importance of being a supportive ally to disabled friends to work towards creating an inclusive and understanding society. Nondisabled individuals must educate themselves and actively work towards breaking down barriers that people with disabilities face – but how?
This article explores four practical ways that nondisabled people can be better allies to their disabled friends, from promoting accessibility and educating themselves to supporting self-advocacy and challenging one-sided views. By fostering empathy, enabling accessibility, and challenging societal norms, we can create a more inclusive world for everyone.
Promote Accessibility
Promoting accessibility is a fundamental aspect of being an ally to disabled individuals. First, you must be able to recognise the physical and attitudinal barriers that exist in various environments, such as poor lighting, furnishings that are too high for wheelchair users and narrow doorways.
Once you can recognise the barriers to accessibility, you can advocate for accessibility in public spaces, workplaces, and social events by ensuring that all venues and facilities you take your friend to have ramps, elevators, accessible bathrooms, and designated parking spaces.
You could also advocate by encouraging event organisers to provide accommodations such as sign language interpreters, captioning services, and assistive listening devices by spreading awareness on social media, signing online petitions and practising advocacy in your neighbourhood.
Equipped with this knowledge, you can help your disabled friend advocate for changes that make their day-to-day life easier and encourage them to implement any they may have overlooked in their or point out any schemes they could take advantage of.
For instance, if your friend has difficulty with mobility, you could make them aware of mobility schemes such as the one offered by mobilitysolutions.co.uk, which can provide eligible applicants with any sized scooter or powered wheelchair.
To see if your friend is eligible, consider visiting their website for more details about the scheme, customer reviews, browse their catalogue of mobility aids, and see how their products could help promote accessibility for your friend and other mobility aid users.
Educate Yourself
One of the essential steps in being a better ally to disabled friends is to educate yourself about disabilities and the experiences of individuals living with them. Take the time to learn about different types of disabilities, their unique challenges, and how they can be accommodated, which will enable you to make more informed decisions and plans when with your friend.
Understand that disabilities are diverse and intersectional, encompassing physical, sensory, and cognitive conditions. They are so diverse that some are visible, and others aren’t! Familiarise yourself with the language and terminology used in the disability community, respecting individuals’ preferences and choices.
Educating yourself not only helps you better understand the experiences of your disabled friends but also enables you to advocate for their rights and needs, which will not only make you a better ally to the disabled community but a better person overall.
Support Self-Advocacy
Supporting self-advocacy is crucial in empowering disabled individuals to speak up for their rights and needs, whether they are at the doctor’s office or in another public setting. Encourage and amplify the voices of your disabled friends, allowing them to share their experiences and perspectives.
Respect their autonomy and decision-making abilities, allowing them to navigate their self-advocacy journey. While you might mean well by offering your disabled friend assistance, do not assume they always require help without asking and instead only help when needed to avoid missing the mark. Doing so will help you recognise that disability does not equate to helplessness or dependence.
Advocate for inclusive policies and practices in your workplace, educational institutions, and community organisations. By supporting self-advocacy, you empower disabled individuals to have agency over their lives, contribute fully to society, and drive our modern society towards one that is all-encompassing and understanding of everyone’s differences.
Challenge Stereotypes and Stigmas
As an ally, it is essential to challenge the stereotypes and stigmas associated with disabilities. Recognise that disabled individuals are not defined solely by their disabilities but have diverse talents, abilities, and aspirations.
Encourage positive representations of disability in media and popular culture, and challenge negative stereotypes when encountering them. Engage in conversations that promote awareness, understanding, and empathy.
Avoid making assumptions or using ableist language that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Treat disabled individuals as equals and value their perspectives and contributions. By challenging stereotypes and stigmas, you help dismantle the barriers that hinder the inclusion and acceptance of disabled individuals in society.
