Archive

Star rating: 2/5.

By Paul Miller, Sophia Parker and Sarah Gillinson.
Demos
ISBN 1841801240
£10

The authors define disabilism as "discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behaviour arising from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others," writes Marian Smith.

I have no arguments with the intentions of this pamphlet's authors - finding ways of working together to fight discrimination is something that should interest everyone. But in their statement of collaboration, they claim to be "committed to the full and equal participation of disabled people". In this pamphlet, though, they fail to live up to this aspiration.

The language used is dense and academic and adds a whole new layer of jargon around disability. I really struggled to understand what they were trying to say. And I despaired of finding ways I might put their ideas into language accessible to my colleagues with learning difficulties.

Marian Smith works for a disability charity.