Language is important for a disabled person because the way you speak can either have a positive or negative effect on someone's disability. There are a lot of terms that disabled people can use to identify themselves but I personally do not like most of them and the only one I typically like to use is disabled. People still identify me in ways that make me cringe no matter how many times I ask them not to because it doesn't affect them and a lot of abled people see nothing wrong with it. Every disabled person will choose to identify themselves in a different way because not all disabled people think in the same way and some people may be more comfortable with certain terms than others. In this post, I am going to talk about some terms that I can't stand when people are talking about my disability. 

Differently-abled – If you were to refer to me as differently-abled I would ignore you because I think this term sounds stupid and I refuse to identify myself in that way. I think the only people that use this term are people that have not learned to accept their disability and need another term to make themselves feel more comfortable. I don't need that because I have been disabled my whole and have accepted the fact I have a disability that is not getting better.. In high school, I had some acceptance issues because identifying myself as disabled was considered negative and I was not allowed to talk like that. It can actually be very damaging for me to use terms that mask the truth! There is nothing wrong with the terms differently-abled and some disabled people may prefer to be identified in that way but I personally can't stand it! 

Special needs-  The only people that use the terms special needs is schools and parents of disabled children but very rarely will you hear actual disabled people use this term. Schools should stop using this term to identify disabled people and switch to just saying disabled because it would have a more positive effect on disabled people. I may struggle a lot more than most people but I have the same need and desires as abled people. When you use the term special needs you are separating my needs from everyone else's like they are so much different. 

Crippled-  Some disabled people prefer to identify as crippled but some do not and will only answer to those who have a disability and can understand to some extent. According to the Webster dictionary, the definition of crippled is someone who is disabled or partially disabled so your are not wrong but calling a disabled person crippled but that doesn't mean we should. Some people are negatively impacted by this term and it doesn't matter what the dictionary says you should not call them that. When I think of the word cripped I think of a fragile old woman who is unable to do things for themselves. I may help with more things than abled people but I wouldn't consider myself as crippled and it's best that you don't identify me in the way because I won't respond. I see crippled as a negative term and unless someone has specifically stated they prefer that term don't use it! 

Retarded- People often use the word retarded when they are mad at someone and want to insult them but this word should not even be in your vocabulary. Whenever you call someone retarded you basically are calling them dumb are directly attacking disabled people even if you didn't mean for it to be that way. This term is often used to make fun of disabled people and even if you are not saying this term to a disabled person it's still insulting to our community! There is never an appropriate time to call someone retarded and I don't care what your excuse is it's not a good reason! 

Inspiring- Imagine if disabled people went up to abled people and called them inspiring for showing up to work. It would be a bit confusing becuase you have to show up to work to make money but that is how disabled people feel when you call us inspiring for no reason. Some disabled people that are making a difference in people's lives are inspiring but I know plenty of disabled people who do nothing with their lives and I would not call these people inspiring! The word inspiring has lost its meaning becuase disabled people are constantly being called inspiring for no reason and we don't take these kinds of remarks seriously! I am sure that there are some people that legitimately think we are inspiring but it's hard to differentiate between the people who legitimately are inspired and those who think are disability makes us inspiring! A disability is not what makes a person inspiring but actions do! 

Handicapped- The word handicapped has been around for centuries but was not used to identify people with disabilities until the late 1800s. You may be surprised by this because it is a common word that most people use without thinking but the word handicapped can be considered offensive becuase it implies inability and separation from society. It's kind of like the word special where it separates disabled people from abled people! I have always used this term becuase I live with abled people who is this term a lot and it was until recently that I realized that it is not a term we should be using! 

Wheelchair-bound- The word wheelchair-bound is used by abled people all the time to identify those in wheelchairs and you even hear it said by new reporters but even though it's on tv that doesn't make it correct. Some people may not mind referring to themselves as wheelchair-bound but it is the incorrect term and you should be identifying disabled people as wheelchair users not wheelchair-bound. Disabled people sometimes need to use a wheelchair but we are not bound to them and we are able to get out of them even if assistance is needed. When I think of the term wheelchair-bound the first thing that comes to mind is chains and not being to get out of something. Wheelchair use is such a negative term becuase it's not something we are bound to but gives us freedome to do more things!

Some disabled people like to use terms such as differently-abled becuase it helps them cope with their disability. Every disabled person is unique and prefers to identify themselves in a different way and these are just terms that I personally do not like and will not identify in that way. Not all disabled people think in the same ways and some people may like some or all of these terms and that is okay. There is no right or wrong way to identify yourself and it should always be up to what the individual prefers. Accepting a disability can be a hard and long process that will only take longer when you use the wrong terms. Language is important because the way you talk to disabled people will either help them learn to accept their situation or do quite the opposite. Think before you speak to disabled people and ask yourself is this going to help or cause emotional pain? What terms do you prefer as a disabled person?