The study of the linguistic and cultural practices that influence the perception, representation, and communication of disability, including sign languages, terminology, and discourse analysis.
Ableism: The social and systemic discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities.
Disability models: The different theoretical frameworks for understanding disability, including the medical model, social model, and cultural model.
Language and its impact on disability: The ways in which language can both support and perpetuate stereotypes about disability, and how language can be used to empower individuals with disabilities.
Identity and disability: The ways in which individuals with disabilities form and express their identities, and how these identities intersect with other aspects of their lives, such as race, gender, and sexuality.
Access and accommodation: The principles and practices for ensuring physical and social access to spaces and activities for individuals with disabilities, including reasonable accommodations in the workplace and in education.
Disability history: The historical treatment of individuals with disabilities, including institutionalization, eugenics, and social movements for disability rights.
Media representation: The portrayal of disability in popular culture, including television, film, and literature, and the impact of these representations on public attitudes and perceptions about disability.
Disability and intersectionality: The ways in which disability intersects with other aspects of identity, such as race, gender, and sexuality, and how these intersections affect the experiences of individuals with disabilities.
Disability activism and advocacy: The social movements and grassroots organizations that work to promote disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion, and the strategies and tactics they use to achieve their goals.
Disability and technology: The role of technology in facilitating or hindering accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities, and the ways in which new developments in technology are changing the landscape of disability studies.
Accessibility: The ability of individuals with disabilities to access and use goods, services, and facilities.
Aphasia: A language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate verbally or in writing.
Assistive Technology: Devices or equipment that help people with disabilities overcome obstacles to communication or other activities of daily living.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication and interaction difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests or activities.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing: A condition in which an individual has a partial or complete loss of hearing.
Dyslexia: A learning disability that affects reading, writing, and spelling.
Intellectual Disability: A general category of disability characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors.
Learning Disability: A category of disabilities that affect an individual's ability to acquire and use information, such as reading, writing, or math.
Physical Disability: A general term that includes a wide range of conditions in which an individual experiences impairment in mobility or physical functioning.
Speech and Language Disorders: A wide range of conditions that affect an individual's ability to communicate effectively.
Visual Impairment/Blindness: A condition in which an individual has partial or complete loss of vision.
Wheelchair User: A person who relies on a wheelchair or other mobility device for mobility.
neurodivergent: A term used to describe individuals whose neurological development and function diverges from what is considered typical or 'neurotypical'.
Down Syndrome: A genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Down Syndrome can impact a range of developmental areas, causing intellectual disability, physical features, and health complications.
Cerebral Palsy: A disorder caused by damage to the brain, affecting movement, balance, and posture.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A condition that causes extreme fatigue that lasts for more than six months, often impacting daily life.
Mental Health: Can refer to a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. Many individuals with mental health diagnoses might not define themselves as disabled, but may still experience significant barriers to access and inclusion.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, characterized by intense and distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Tourette Syndrome: A neurological condition characterized by involuntary, repetitive vocalizations and/or movements.