Disability is Not a Word to Avoid

It’s okay to use the word disability. It’s a neutral word, not a negative word, to describe a common human experience.

And when it comes to culture and belonging in the larger disability community, I would suggest that it’s a great choice to use the word, including with pride. It doesn’t have to be avoided.

I heard NPR’s “Up First” podcast provide information about the Paralympic Games which had its Opening Ceremony yesterday, and I noticed that they never used the word disability once. They talked about certain experiences and conditions of disability (for instance, amputation and visual impairment) but I thought it was interesting that they never used the word itself. I don’t know how much of that was a deliberate choice, but the Paralympic Games seems like an apt context to use the word.

Whether this was intentional or not, I think it’s great for us to consider this again. We can say disability. It’s an okay word — and a good word for an important community.

— Renee Roederer