More than 45 million Brazilians have some type of disability, according to the latest survey by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). This figure represents nearly 25% of the country's population; however, this does not prevent these people from being subjected to discrimination. This prejudice is defined as ableism, a relatively new term in the Brazilian language that refers to actions and expressions that belittle them.
According to the social worker and inclusive education specialist José Roberto Fonseca, ableist expressions place the person with a disability in the position of being incapable of having or achieving accomplishments on account of their conditions. “Achieving success with a disability is seen as overcoming, but it is something normal. Having a disability does not minimize anyone,” he emphasizes.
“People only understand that having a disability doesn't incapacitate anyone when they live with a disabled person and treat them without restrictions. Inclusion becomes natural in spaces and stops being an obligation, states José, who is a wheelchair user.
A YouTuber Mariana Torquato has been discussing the subject since 2016 on her video platform channel, Vai Uma Mãozinha Aí?. Recently, she went viral on Instagram with a Reels which shows the prejudiced expressions present in the Brazilian vocabulary.
