Disabled People or People with Disabilities?
I came across an article mentioning that many disabilty advocates want to use the disabled label.
What do you prefer for yourself? Maybe the words you like best don't even use disability but something more specific.
Are there terms you really dislike others using when referring to you?
I prefer disabled person. It’s part of who I am. Many people find person first language (person with a disability) to be minimizing of their illnesses. Some consider it to be ableist as it places a negative connotation on the disability. At the end of the day, it’s up to personal choice and whatever makes you comfortable is what matters most! :)
@yellowfeathers I've had people first instilled into me for quite a while, even before understanding the what/why and it's now my default. I have seen more and more people like yourself though go with more of the identity wording. I think I will likely switch over to disabled instead of people first when it comes to those involved with advocacy, especially if it becomes more common to hear it discussed that way. I think ideally is to use what someone else prefers of course, but it's not always possible to do so and then it can be difficult to remember everyone's preferences!
Personally, I am fine with either. I agreed with the mention in the article though differently-abled never caught on with me.
@AffyAvo
I don't think I have a disability. I think I just have a different brain (ADHD) #neurodiversity but I believe it's fair to provide support for neurodiverse individuals since they're expected to function in a neurotypical world.
@jovialButterfly6752 When I tend to see neurodiversity mentioned it's usually quite positive!
Disabled/has a disability are both fine with me.
Chronic illnesses/conditions are both fine (although at least 1 thing I have is a condition and not an illness, moreso just a congential defect rather than a specific label). Disease I prefer isn't used unless it's talking about parts/tissue and not me ie. over here is diseased tissue and a few cm over is healthy tissue. Disorder is fine, although I tend to use it with specific conditions and not others ie. I have a blood disorder but skin conditions.
I have asthma, instead of am asthmatic. I think asthmatic just has too many negative connotations from when I was very young and issues unrelated to asthma were blamed on it. It was the wording used when I first noticed I was left out of some activities.
So a mixed bag for me!
@AffyAvo thanks for this topic.
I think words and their connotations are complex and it seems like a never-ending pursue to create and claim and reclaim words that make people feel better.
However prejudice and judgment are happening all the time therefore it's an constant challenge to change them for the better.
I realized it seems to be a local preference which term is now popular.
I understand in America the term disabled people is preferred. I am more used to people with disabilities.
I am aware of the medical conditions and what it means. It is part of who I am but it I don't feel any different than when I would compare myself to anyone else and recognise our diffences (age, hair styles, weight, ... )
For me it's not denial or ableism. I think we need words to be able to talk about them and to grasp our reality.
For me both words and how we see them is just two sides of the same coin.
It's great that people can use the words they feel more comfortable with.
@kindSoul10
I took would prefer people with disabilites or even people with different needs. At the end of the day, what matters is that each individual's preference is respected. We're all part of the same community although we might differ on preferences about how we are addressed.
@kindSoul10 I find that interesting you were aware of the cultural differences of some countries with the terms! I think if the ableism was gone what terms were use wouldn't have much significance to most at that point - hopefully we get there!
People with a disability. When someone asks you what you disability is you can then tell them, as an example, I am some who has ADHD. I believe calling yourself a disabled person gives the disability ownership over you. I feel as humans we are person first, and then what ever ability or inability we have we can then say it is what we have, not it having us. If that makes any sense.
@Onlyonefollower
Hello fellow ADHDer. I like that thought.
@jovialButterfly6752 Greetings :)
@Onlyonefollower Yeah, that's what I was taught for a while and am still the most used to althoguh I hear disabled more and more.
@AffyAvo
I don't really care either way, but I know I don't really identify with disabled fully. More a person with chronic health conditions.
@SilentSerenityy Years ago I would have been the same, unfortunately I have found with more severe illness also comes increased discrimination, so I connect more with disability than I used to.
@AffyAvo I prefer just people. Seeing a label adds judgement and stigma.
@WeedyGarden
<3
@AffyAvo
In all honestly I think "differently abled" is the best description! It makes our disabilities seem like a positive even thing not negative as Disability can sometimes seem.
But if I would say anything I would say "I have a learning disability" or "they have a learning disability" therefore it doesn't attach itself to my identity
Thank you for the Post it was very interesting to think about, some good food for thought! 💙
I agree!
