Internalized Ableism as a Driving Force of Your Business

Big Brave Business: Business Ethics, Revolutionary Leadership and Human-First Entrepreneurship with Sarah Heeter · Oct 13, 2026 · 55m

Internalized ableism drives many disabled and chronically ill people to overperform, avoid asking for accommodations, and question whether they are “disabled enough,” often because outside systems and narratives define who deserves support. These standards harm everyone, showing up in exclusionary event habits, pressure on new mothers, and the expectation that disability must be overcome rather than accepted and grieved. Entrepreneurship can offer a way out by letting founders build their businesses around their own needs, rest without guilt, and attract clients who respond to flexibility…