Research has demonstrated that overt and covert experiences of prejudice and discrimination have been associated with increased stress and distress among people with disabilities (Emerson, 2010; Mazur, 2008), a population with higher than expected rates of mental health concerns. Microaggressions are brief, commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities that intentionally or unintentionally communicate negative slights or insults toward particular social groups (Pierce, Carew, Pierce-Gonzalez, & Willis, 1978), and contribute to minority stress. Keller and Galgay (2010) outlined a useful taxonomy of microaggressions against people with disabilities, but no scale yet exists to measure experiences of microaggressions among people with disabilities. Three studies were conducted to develop, validate, and use a scale measuring microaggressions experienced by people with physical disabilities, the Ableist Microaggressions Scale (AMS).

The AMS-initial version (AMSi) was developed through a literature review, feedback from three experts, two cognitive interviews, and a small pilot study. The final version of the AMSi included 32 items related to lifetime experiences with ableist microaggressions on a six-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 0 (Never) to 5 (Very frequently). Participants with physical disabilities (n = 1,392) were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk to participate in an online study assessing demographics, microaggressions, perceived stress, depression, socially desirable responding, creativity, and social support. Using exploratory factor analysis in Study 1 (n = 559), a 20-item, four-factor model emerged, including Helplessness, Minimization, Denial of Personhood, and Otherization. In Study 2 (n = 833), confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the factor structure determined in Study 1, and demonstrated adequate validity and reliability for the AMS.

Participants in Study 1 or 2 who indicated that they identified as a sexual minority (e.g., bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, queer, questioning, same-sex/gender attracted) were provided the option to participate in Study 3. Study 3 (n = 192) used the AMS to explore the impact of microaggressions on social support for sexual minorities with disabilities. Results indicated no relationship between reported microaggressions from specific communities and perceived social support within those communities. Additional findings, implications, and limitations are discussed within the context of the research literature.