Diversity experts Armida Russell, Amy Tolbert, and Frank Wilderman have identified four cornerstones of diversity development. They are knowledge, acceptance, understanding, and behavior. We will apply these in a disability awareness context.

The best way to battle stereotypes is to inform yourself about the truth. Some activities you can do on a personal level include:

• Get to know people with disabilities.
• Take classes with a focus on understanding disability issues, especially those related to employment.
• Travel to different places and see how people with disabilities are treated and live.
• Work with different support organizations to learn more about the world you live and work in.
• Involve yourself with people that your own stereotypes could apply to. Find out what they are really like.