Language
It was clear from my interaction with other countries that the language surrounding disability matters. The overriding message was that inclusive language was vital in promoting a more respectful and accurate representation of disabled people. Language has the power to shape realities and, ultimately, improve the wellbeing of disabled individuals.
Language plays a part in the way we think but it’s important to remember that language is subjective and ever-changing.
During my travels, I encountered many perspectives on the language we use to describe disability, and one conversation in New Zealand particularly stood out.
I spoke with a disabled woman who said she would use the term ‘differently abled’ for a while and said she feel embarrassed to admit that now. She used it as she felt she "had to put a positive spin on something that in actual fact doesn’t need to be sugar-coated" as disability is an important part of her identity.
Using differently abled made her feel dismissive of her own lived experience. She told me she no longer views the word disability as a negative. "By not using the word disability it just perpetuates negative stereotypes around what it means to be disabled. People need to remember that being disabled is not inherently bad and neither is the word itself.”
Language has a profound impact on how disability is perceived, understood, and experienced, both by disabled people and by society as a whole.
Disabled people are often described in ways that are disempowering, discriminatory, degrading and offensive. Negative words such as ‘victim’ or ‘sufferer’ reinforce stereotypes that disabled people are unhappy about their lives, wish they were ‘normal’, and should be viewed as objects of pity. These harmful stereotypes can impact mental wellbeing.
One of the EGL team introduced me to some Maori terms for certain disabilities. The creator of these terms wanted the individuals and whanau to feel empowered by them.
For example; takiwātanga, the Maori term for autism. It means ‘one's own time and space’ and highlights the value of different perspectives and inherent life paces and rhythms. The Maori term for ADHD is aroretini, literally meaning ‘attention goes to many things’.
Keri Opai, who helped devise the words, said they had been chosen not only to fill gaps in the Maori vocabulary, but also to ensure that the terms are non-judgemental and the disabled community had been consulted and involved in these additions.
The language we use influences the way disabled people are treated. It can promote equity and inclusion, or it can contribute to discrimination and exclusion. Very often the language surrounding disability is fear-driven; suffering, burden, dependent, crisis. This language convinces people that disability is something that must be overcome.
Language serves as both a lens and a bridge in understanding disability. Words become pathways, not just for communication but for connection, offering insight into lived experiences.
Inclusive and respectful language helps to change perceptions and reduce stigma around disabled people, helping to contribute to positive wellbeing.