Normative Commonplaces

Standards, expectations, and unwritten rules in workplaces that are based on the assumed abilities and behaviors of non-disabled workers, creating barriers for employees with disabilities. These norms can include expectations about pace of work, methods of completing tasks, communication styles, and criteria for promotion that implicitly assume visual, auditory, or physical abilities. Normative commonplaces can be difficult to identify because they are embedded in organizational culture and often appear neutral. They can discourage workers with disabilities from self-advocacy, lead to internalized ableism, and create invisible barriers to career advancement even when explicit accommodations for task completion are in place.