A phrase you may have heard before is that “disability is not a bad word,” but let’s dive into that. Language is a powerful tool, but it has the capacity to be harmful. While some people may prefer to self-identify as differently-abled, handicapable, or specially-abled, these terms are ultimately euphemisms for a word that feels negative to say: disabled.
As a disabled person, I recognize that others can self-identify as they like, but to hear other people describe me as “handicapable” or “specially-abled” can be offensive. As I’ve come to understand over the past 15 years of living with NMOSD and all of the challenges that come with my diagnosis, the word “disabled” is NOT inherently a negative word. “Disabled” is an entirely neutral word. It’s a word I can describe myself with, the same way I might say I have brown hair and blue eyes. I am disabled, and to dance around it or try to soften it through the use of euphemism doesn’t aid me. I accept the way that I am, but I also accept that others haven’t come to my same conclusion, or are yet to come to this conclusion.
Ultimately, regardless of how you self-describe, I ask that you try to recognize that being disabled and saying the word disabled is not bad—it’s neutral! The only negative connotation with disability stems from ableism, which is its own beast. Ableism is a state of mind that assumes that those without disabilities are superior; it manifests itself in thoughts and in acts of prejudice or discrimination against people with disabilities.
In the end, self-acceptance is a key step in anyone’s post-diagnosis journey. Considering disability to be a bad thing is a hurdle many others have had to encounter and cope with—but I invite you to try to see it in a different light.
The following articles are selected based on their relevance to disability and acceptance. This acceptance ranges from reflecting on one’s experiences, accepting one’s disability status by integrating adaptive tools into your life, and finding your identity with a disability and self-accepting. I hope these articles can help you in your own journey.
