Toward a Disability Communication Ethics: Rethinking Moral Development and Professional Training Across Strategic Communication Disciplines

This article examines how communication ethics shifts when viewed through disability perspectives. It argues for a comprehensive framework of disability communication ethics across strategic communication fields. Strategic communication professionals who design and evaluate purposeful communication for organizations shape ethical standards and practices. Drawing on moral development theory, stakeholder theory, dialogic communication, and disability studies, the study analyzes interviews, focus groups, and training observations to illuminate how disabled and non-disabled practitioners, educators, and advocates reflect on disability communication ethics and training. Findings show that disability is often treated as a compliance issue rather than an ethical commitment, creating gaps in training, organizational culture, and professional preparation. Participants emphasized normalizing disability, challenging ableist norms, and fostering trust, curiosity, and psychological safety. The research identifies four components of disability communication ethics: accessibility, participation, representation, and allyship. It concludes that centering disability shifts ethics toward relational, justice-oriented practices supporting equitable participation.