Productivity Norms

Socially constructed expectations about the quantity and pace of work output that individuals should maintain. Productivity norms are often built around non-disabled bodies and minds, creating barriers for people with disabilities whose work patterns, energy levels, or processing speeds may differ. In accessibility contexts, productivity norms intersect with ableism when accommodation is evaluated based on whether it restores "normal" productivity rather than enabling meaningful participation. Generative AI use as accommodation raises tensions about whether maintaining productivity through AI assistance constitutes genuine access or masks the need for systemic change.