Heirarchy of Stigmatization Against Disability

Smart, J. F. (2009). Disability, society, and the individual. (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: Pro Ed.

Unfortunately, individual with disabilities suffer from stigmas created by society, which change from one type of disability to the next.  Individuals with physical disabilities experience the least amount of stigmatization, while those intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disabilities experience the most stigma as a result of negative perceptions (Smart, 2009).  Smart (2009) explained individuals with physical disabilities experience the lesser amount of stigmatization because physical disabilities are easily seen and more easily understood.  Abstract disabilities like intellectual disability and psychiatric disability are accompanied by more fear and discomfort for people in society, as they don’t as easily understand these internalizing disabilities.