Book review: Double Discrimination: People of Colour With Learning Disabilities

Double Discrimination: People of Colour With Learning Disabilities Defying Ableism and Racism by Saba Salman is an essential read, as this is an area that is often misunderstood yet causes significant difficulties, challenges and hardships in many aspects of life.

The double discrimination faced by people of colour with a learning disability is often not explored, and, if at all, not to the depth it is in this excellent book.

From the outset, in the preface, it is clear that this is a very personal journey through the web of discrimination. Saba has a sister, Raana, who has a learning disability, and Saba’s experiences form the basis of this book.

Saba then invites the reader to consider the further discrimination people who are disabled experience, in addition to racism. This is at the core of this work; it’s about the double discrimination that people who have a learning disability and are of colour experience alongside racism: ableism, and how they collide.

Double discrimination and learning disabilities

Through her lived experiences, she explores how systems and structures need to be fully investigated with regard to the inequalities experienced by individuals, their families, and wider networks. These challenges are exacerbated by the turbulent times we live in, marked by the rise of extreme views in the world, giving this book a greater sense of immediate relevance.

Conversations need to happen throughout society, starting in schools and extending through policy stakeholders, service design and delivery. Positive images of learning-disabled individuals of colour must be seen in the media, sports, politics, services, the arts and other areas of society to shift the current position towards a more understanding, aware and inclusive world. It starts with people being heard, seen, involved and engaged in how solutions can be put into action.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in a better, fairer society and for all students of health, education and social care.

Jim Blair

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