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I hate the term "disabled."

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ASPartOfMe
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27 Feb 2014, 8:03 pm

Disadvantaged is what I prefer. There are parts of my Aspergers-Autism that are inhibiting, other parts of it causes me to think diffidently and have different preferences but cause me to have trouble with the neuromajority.


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Verdandi
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27 Feb 2014, 8:35 pm

Tuttle wrote:
Is it that you hate the word disabled, or is it that you hate how people use the word disabled?

I'm disabled. I'm fully aware of that. There's nothing wrong with me being disabled. I need things that other people don't. I'm significantly impaired. Being so impaired doesn't mean I don't also have things I'm good at, and doesn't make me less human, but it is useful to remember, to take this into account with me too.

But that doesn't change that people will look at me, and treat me like I'm just a subhuman burden who doesn't deserve anything that "real people" get. That's not because I'm "disabled". That's not because of the word, that's because of how people treat me.


I have nothing to add to this. It's my perspective as well.



EzraS
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27 Feb 2014, 8:38 pm

I refer to myself as developmentally disabled and intellectually disabled.
I guess have been in school with kids with disabilities for so long, it does not have a negative connotation to me.
To me it's casual like when someone says they are nearsighted. I mean that too is a limitation and a disability of sorts. As far as a negative attitude towards me goes, "ret*d" is what's used, not 'disabled'.
I mention having said disabilities on the forums to show that just because someone disabled in these areas does not mean that they can't be considered cool, smart or funny and fun to be around.



League_Girl
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28 Feb 2014, 12:32 am

Sweetleaf wrote:
League_Girl wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
League_Girl wrote:
I am not disabled either and I also hate it when referred to as such. I have a disability but I am not disabled.


What exactly is the difference?...seems like different wordings for the same idea.



Disabled=limited to what they are able to do and can't do it
Disability=have limits but have to try harder than other people to do it and are capable


Interesting, would seem disabled still makes more sense in my case......though in the dictionary there isn't really any distinction between the terms disability and disabled.


My mom says I am not disabled but she said I have a disability. :shrugs:


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themetamorphosis
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02 Mar 2014, 6:37 pm

I agree. I am not disabled by a neurological condition, I am disabled by society. It is my hope that like race or sexuality, one day a different perspective and set of skills will have recognition for what is, a difference rather than a defect.

I am diagnosed ADHD btw, but feel I fit in better here.