Language plays a huge part in our world and how we interpret and perceive it. As I lose my sight and accept that I am disabled, I have been able to reflect on the language I use, and the language used around me. I remember some of the first times language stood out on my vision loss journey, it was when someone stumbled over one of the many visual terms we have in our vocabulary, such as see you later or the classic blind leading the blind comment. As people realised that I could misinterpret it, they stumbled to use different terms.
I have found using terms like disabled difficult as it is associated in my mind as being less than and not worthy. How we interpret words comes from the usage and context we see in our society. We build up associations with words and they are hard to break. I came across this study about the use of language by disability professionals. I find the definition of types of ableist language useful in understanding the language I most need to work on.
Types of Ableist Language
Overtly Ableist Language
Ableist disability language commonly falls into three categories: overtly ableist language; euphemistically ableist language; and contextually ableist language. Overtly ableist words and phrases, such as the R-word, ‘deranged’, and ‘crazy,’ are less subtle, and are offensive and hurtful (Linton, 1998). While many of these terms, such as ‘idiot,’ ‘insane,’ ‘lame,’ etc., originated as medical diagnoses for disabled people, medical diagnoses labels have since evolved, yet, these words remain as everyday pejoratives (Ben-Moshe, 2005; Sherry et al., 2020; Trent, 1994). Although sometimes designed to bully disabled people directly, more often, these terms are used as insults directed toward nondisabled people (Garcia et al., 2020). However, even when the targets of these insults are nondisabled people, the use of this language still further stigmatizes disabled people (Siperstein et al., 2010).
Some overtly ableist words and phrases, such as ‘blind to,’ ‘crippled,’ and ‘lame,’ also use disability as metaphors (Ben-Moshe, 2005; Schalk, 2013). For example, a politician’s last months are often described as ‘lame duck,’ downturn economies are often described as ‘crippled,’ ignored advice is often described as ‘falling on deaf ears,’ and so on. The use of these words and phrases as metaphors make presumptions about disability that distort the lived realities of disabled people, reinforcing that disability is negative and associating it with inability, lack, and loss (Ben-Moshe, 2005; Schalk, 2013).
Euphemistically Ableist Language
Euphemistic ableist words, such as ‘differently abled,’ ‘special needs,’ and ‘people with abilities,’ were created by ‘well-meaning’ nondisabled people (Andrews et al., 2022; Linton, 1998). Despite the flowery language often involved, these terms imply disability is inherently negative, that it is too bad and sad to name, and that it is to be avoided (Brown, 2013; Linton, 1998). While doing so, these terms promote infantilization and paternalism, while still othering disabled people (Andrews et al., 2022; Linton, 1998).
Some euphemistically ableist words, such as ‘people affected by disability,’ also associate disabled people with passivity, suffering, and affliction (Ben-Moshe, 2005; Linton, 1998). These types of phrases imply disability is something negative that happens to disabled people and/or that they suffer from. Not only do these phrases project experiences onto disability, they also ignore that disability is a social/political identity (Linton, 1998). This type of patronizing language from nondisabled people can leave the nondisabled individual feeling good, but ultimately it implies disability is inherently negative (Fox & Giles, 1996).
Contextually Ableist Language
Contextually ableist words may be ableist in some context and not ableist in others. For example, terms like ‘depressed,’ ‘bipolar,’ and ‘OCD,’ are not necessarily ableist when used to refer to specific disabilities or diagnoses disabled people have. However, it is ableist to use these terms to negatively critique others or their behavior (Brown, 2021).
The study finds that over 10% of professionals use overtly ableist language, which raises the question of how widespread the use of the words are by the public. I have identified that I use the term crazy a lot and I am actively working on removing it from my vocabulary. Identify the words you use that are abilist and pick one of them to remove from your vocabulary.
By changing the language we use, we can truly change the world to be more inclusive.
Disability professionals used an average of 10.1% of the possible overtly ableist words. The most commonly used overtly ableist words were ‘crazy’, ‘stupid’, and ‘insane’; the least commonly used overtly ableist words were ‘crippled’, ‘cuckoo’, and ‘retarded’
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