Disabled is Not a Bad Word

Disabled means unable to do something common in our society. I am disabled.

Dis = not

Able = able

It is a literal statement of the challenge we disabled people face. It is not a bad word.

In fact, when you use the phrase special needs over disability you actually obscure the fact that the people you are referring to are part of a legally protected class with clearly defined rights and protections under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.

It does not help the disability community when you avoid the word disabled. It fractures us and makes it more difficult to organize and advocate for our needs.

So please Say The Word disabled. If you are unable to do something that most people can identify as disabled. (Yes, that includes people with chronic illness and mental illness if those illnesses get in the way of your abilities) If you temporarily need crutches or a wheelchair due to an injury you are temporarily disabled and have a temporary disability with legal protections.

When all people with disabilities identify as disabled we are all put in a more powerful position to advocate for our needs and bring conversations about ableism out into the open. So just say the word.