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Do PwD have any advantages by the virtue of their identity PwD?
An example of privilege that readily comes to mind include PwD who have exceptional abilities. These persons are called savant.
But privilege can also be understood as layered within the PwD, so that within the larger PwD group, some sub-groups might be considered more privileged than others.
This is aptly captured in Stephen Hawking's words quoted in Page 6 when he said "I realize that I am very lucky in many ways... the majority of people with disabilities in the world have an extremely difficult time with everyday survival"
Hawking's case also shows how privilege is tied to intersectionality.
More prominent, however, is the oppression of PwD, beginning with perhaps the most common of all -- stereotyping and negative attitude.
The extent and nature of oppression varies across the world While there might still be areas where stigmas and taboos shroud thinking and action, most parts of the world are at different stages towards more systematic understanding, active disability regulations, and more socially just approaches to disability.
Another way to understand the oppression that PwD face is through the absences, e.g. lack of needed services, legislation, data & evidence, inclusion, accessibility, and funding.
For instance, a multi-country study of disability legislation show that only 45 countries have anti-discrimination and other disability-specific laws.
In the United Kingdom for instance, 75 % of the companies of the FTSE 100 Index on the London Stock Exchange fail to meet basic levels of web accessibility.
Privilege and Oppression within the PWD Community