Let's start this post with an example of both languages. Disabled person is disability-first, as it describes the disability that the person has before the gender. Person who has a disability is person-first, as it puts the gender/fact that they are human before the disability. Different people prefer different usages. Disability-first, to me, means that… Continue reading Person-first or Disability-first language
Category: Disability
Don’t be “Sorry” about Disability
Please don't pity disabled people. We live with what we are given. We understand that our situation is different, but most of us know how to adapt around it. Pitying us gets us nowhere. Validation gets us somewhere. Pitying makes us feel bad (or worse) about the disability or condition that we live with. We… Continue reading Don’t be “Sorry” about Disability
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The Word Normal
Normal is a complex word for disabled people. Some prefer that it not be used, while some are completely fine with it. For me, normal is fine as long as it doesn’t compare disabled and abled people. For example, if an able-bodied person says “Pretty soon, you’ll be able to walk normally”, to a disabled… Continue reading The Word Normal
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“These/those people” is Derogatory to Disabled People
These words are extremely singling and upsetting to disabled people. It groups all disabled people together, and is most likely used in a way that insults a disabled person (i.e. These people aren't worth it, give them a damn straw, which I've seen used a lot lately, as a result of straw bans.) This weakens… Continue reading “These/those people” is Derogatory to Disabled People
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The Lady From Walmart
I had a woman recognize that I had CP from the way I walked tonight Walmart. We exchanged stories, and I found out that her daughter has Spina Bifida. Her daughter’s heel had to be amputated after a surgical team told them that she could “walk like you would do regularly” right after her surgery.… Continue reading The Lady From Walmart
Derek I. Schmitz 
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