Critiquing reasonable adjustment: calling for positive action to tackle disability discrimination

Abstract

In this article, I reflect on my recent experience to call for progress to address pervasive disability discrimination, including more attention in disability studies to empower disabled people to pursue their preferences in public life. Relating to Nolan’s recent story, I highlight a six-fold barrier for disabled people to challenge discrimination, in particular critiquing the ambiguity of ‘reasonableness’ in reasonable adjustment which dilutes legal obligation and reduces its efficacy in practice. Reasonable adjustment has been construed with an ableist mind frame and places an unfair and unrealistic burden on disabled people to access justice. I argue for equality of preference between disabled and non-disabled people to normalise disability, urging everyone to take positive action against disability discrimination.