Ableist microaggression

A subtle, often unintentional comment, question, or behavior that communicates hostile, derogatory, or negative assumptions about disability. Examples include unsolicited compliments on "bravery" for performing routine tasks, expressions of surprise at a disabled person's competence, invasive questions about diagnosis or prognosis, and assumptions about what disabled people can or should want. Unlike overt discrimination, microaggressions are frequently dismissed as benign or well-intentioned, making them difficult to address in the moment. Research has shown that ableist microaggressions are pervasive in academic, clinical, and everyday environments, contributing to cumulative psychological harm. Emerging approaches use LLM-driven simulated conversations to help people practice recognizing these behaviors through interactive dialogue scenarios based on real disabled people's experiences.