By Gian Toledanes, DO | March 17, 2023 |
Ableism is a common yet misunderstood “–ism”. Yet the common thread that ties ableism and other –isms/ forms of discrimination like racism, sexism, and homophobia, is the belief that one group or identity is “less than” others. Specifically, ableism is discrimination of and prejudice against people with disabilities and is rooted in the belief that people with typical abilities are superior to those with disabilities. Ableism circumscribes an individual’s identity to their disability thus limiting our impressions of the person. In medicine, we have a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of ableism, increase our own awareness, and share this knowledge with our community.
We spoke with first-year medical student, Blake Hardin, author of “Go the Extra Mile,” about his experience with chronic illness and the healthcare system, at our February 2023 #JHMChat. Joining him was Dr. Ashley Jenkins, Med-Peds hospitalist and researcher, whose focus is on equitable healthcare delivery for people living with chronic illness.
The conversation began with the challenges faced by people with chronic illness as they navigated the healthcare system. As the #JHMChat proceeded, the flaws revealed themselves to be multifactorial, yet interwoven.