Words Matter: Recognizing Ableism, Interrupting Microaggressions, and Advancing Inclusive Communication (Fall 2026)

Language shapes institutional culture, influences perceptions of disability, and can either reinforce exclusion or promote belonging. In higher education, ableist assumptions and disability-related microaggressions frequently appear in everyday conversations, instructional practices, institutional communications, and decision-making processes.

This webinar examines how implicit bias contributes to ableist language and explores practical strategies for recognizing and interrupting disability-related microaggressions. Participants will apply the Interrupt, Question, Educate, and Echo framework to realistic campus scenarios while considering how inclusive communication can support broader institutional change.

Particular attention will be given to distinguishing between intent and impact, understanding identity-first and person-first language, and responding constructively to ableism without unnecessarily escalating interpersonal conflict.

Accommodations

The NED is committed to providing universal access to all of our events, we’d like to discover how we can make the event more inclusive so you can fully participate!

Machine generated captions are available in real-time for all Zoom events, however human generated CART (live caption) service and ASL interpretation can be requested with advanced notice (2 weeks) to make the event more accessible.

Please, let us know of any disability-related accommodations that will facilitate your full participation.

Questions?

Contact facilitator Danilo Bojic.

Registration Required

Use the RSVP tool below to register. After registering, a calendar invite will be sent to you as a reminder of the event start date.