Understanding Implicit Bias And How It Impacts People with Disability

Implicit bias is a term you may have encountered, but its meaning and implications, particularly for people with disability, often remain misunderstood.

Let's clarify what implicit bias is and examine its profound effects on individuals with disability.

What is Implicit Bias?

Implicit bias refers to subconscious attitudes and beliefs we hold about other people or groups, developed through our upbringing, culture, media, and personal experiences. Unlike explicit bias, which is deliberate and obvious, implicit bias operates beneath our conscious awareness. Despite being subtle, implicit biases significantly influence how we interact with and treat others.

The most common method for identifying implicit bias is through the Implicit Association Test (IAT). This test evaluates how rapidly people associate different concepts—for example, linking the word "disabled" with negative versus positive terms. Faster associations between "disabled" and negative attributes indicate stronger implicit biases.

In disability-focused research, variations of the IAT often incorporate visual symbols (such as a wheelchair icon) paired with descriptive words like "incompetent" or "kind." These tests help uncover unconscious biases that individuals may not recognise they harbour.

Recent studies consistently reveal negative implicit biases toward people with disability. Findings indicate that many people held moderate negative biases, associating disability with undesirable characteristics, even if they consciously endorse positive attitudes.

These biases span across various disability types, including physical and intellectual disability. Common stereotypes depict people with disability as incompetent, cold, or child-like. Notably, employment research shows that hiring managers often perceive candidates with visual impairments as less capable than those without disability.

Interestingly, implicit biases aren't limited to the general public; healthcare providers and even family members supporting people with disability also exhibit negative unconscious biases.

Why Implicit Bias Matters

Implicit biases significantly impact real-life decisions and interactions. They influence employment opportunities, equitable healthcare access, educational inclusion, and community participation. Even people with the best intentions may unintentionally discriminate against or marginalise people with disability due to these subconscious biases.

Current initiatives aimed at inclusion, such as wage subsidies or awareness campaigns, haven't effectively shifted outcomes for people with disabilities. Persistent employment disparities highlight the need to address these underlying implicit biases more comprehensively.

Identifying implicit biases is essential, but actual progress comes from actively reducing the effects of bias. Effective strategies include targeted training, implementing inclusive policies, and co-designing interventions with individuals with lived experiences of disability.

Creating a genuinely inclusive society requires introspection and acknowledging our own implicit biases. Only by recognising and addressing these unconscious attitudes can meaningful, lasting change be achieved.

If you're interested in exploring and addressing your own implicit biases, consider joining our specialised training. You'll gain exclusive access to an Implicit Association Test and participate in an interactive, reflective professional development experience designed to promote inclusivity and reduce unconscious bias.

Reference

Antonopoulos, C. R., Sugden, N., & Saliba, A. (2023). Implicit bias toward people with disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 68(2), 121–134. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000493