Rejecting internalized ableism: Embracing collective care and joy for individuals with invisible disabilities

Presenter(s)

Julia B. Hubbard, B.A. in Sociology and Hispanic Literature and Culture, MSW in progress (she/her/hers)

MSW Candidate
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hannah Burgess, BA in Psychology, MSW in progress (she/they)

MSW Student
UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work

Ableist thought molds our society, reinforcing the notion that non-disabled individuals hold greater value than those who hold disability status. Invisibly disabled individuals uniquely internalize ableism, resulting in isolation and pressure to prove their disability. Elevating collective identity and interdependence resists ableist frameworks and fosters empowerment, visibility, and joy.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Upon completion, participants will be able to explore how internalized ableism deeply harms our society’s collective consciousness, with a special focus on what ableist narratives look like for individuals with invisible disabilities.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand what it takes to reject internalized ableism and replace it with a disability justice framework for approaching social work and daily life.
Upon completion, participants will be able to envision how the disability justice framework promotes disability visibility, collective care, and joy for all in the disability community.