Disability Stereotyping

The attribution of fixed, oversimplified characteristics to individuals based on their disability status. In the context of AI and language models, disability stereotyping occurs when systems associate specific disabilities with particular traits — for example, linking autism with social withdrawal, depression with unreliability in employment, or visual impairment with dependency. These stereotypes can be both overtly negative (assuming incompetence) and superficially positive but still harmful (assuming exceptional courage or inspiration). When encoded in AI systems used for decision-making, disability stereotyping can lead to discriminatory outcomes in hiring, content moderation, educational assessment, and healthcare resource allocation.