Unshrouding “feeling good” ableism: demythologizing disability towards inclusive philanthropy

It is indubitable that philanthropic activities and programs put a massive effort on doing good work as well as good will, and when it comes to disability milieu, an exhaustive list of nonprofits and foundations are pledging their commitments towards humanitarian efforts to afford assistance and aids to people with disability. Yet, though the efforts are very well-intentioned, the endeavor of altruistic work seems to be wide off the mark as it is believed those attempts to not be doing enough, especially when it comes to inclusiveness and empowerment of people with disability. The idea of humanitarian effort in disability landscape is skewed towards welfare practices which offer the “feeling good” sentimentality in ableist environs – which grants givers to ‘feel good’ – yet; instead of involving and empowering; taxonomically depict people with disability in the erroneous shades and exhort them to the curb. This situational context occurs as disability myths are still influencing philanthropical sentimentality which somehow prejudiced and deviated, simultaneously stigmatize disability. Thus, this paper will dichotomize this “feeling good” ableism by delving into how this sentiment creates a misleading ideation towards disability and how to demythologize this towards inclusive philanthropy. This paper will firstly elaborate on disability myths and how it induces detrimental preconceived notion of the public towards disability. These myths are being thematically conceptualized into pathological, saviorism/heroism, pathetical, theological, and taxonomical perspectives. After fathoming these myths that shrouding the philanthropic setting, the discussion will further deliberate on actions ought to be taken towards demythologizing this “feeling good” ableism within the philanthropic topography. The focus will be accentuating on the epistemological mainstreaming effort, participative inclusion approach, justifiable sensitization and exposure in transmuting public cognizance, reciprocal reintegration of both people with disability and able-bodied community, as well as towards assertive advocacy and support in altruistic atmosphere. It helps to construct ameliorated cognizance that inclusive philanthropy is more than just providing aids and assistance lamented in generic welfare viewpoint; instead, it is also significant to empower and encourage participative involvement of people with disability in the humanitarian effort so that the idea of inclusiveness is justifiably amplified.