Swap differently abled out for disabled

The terms "differently abled" and "disabled" both aim to describe individuals who have a disability, but they come with different implications and connotations. The choice of terminology can be significant and may reflect broader attitudes towards disability.

  • Disabled: This term is commonly used and accepted within the disability community. It acknowledges the reality of physical or mental impairments and how these impairments interact with societal structures that may not be accommodating. 
  • Differently Abled: This term emerged as an attempt to highlight the positive aspects or unique abilities of individuals with impairments, suggesting that they have different but valuable skills or perspectives. However, it is often criticized for being overly euphemistic or patronizing. 

In Datapeople, we recommend using the term disabled because it is straightforward, descriptive and focuses on the barriers that prevent full participation in society. Disabled tends to reflect a more direct acknowledgment of the social and environmental barriers that need to be addressed to create a more inclusive society. 

Our editor highlights terms like “differently abled” because it obscures the real challenges faced by people with disabilities:

  • Lack of clarity: It can be seen as avoiding the reality of disability and the specific challenges that individuals endure.
  • Patronizing tone: It might come across as diminishing the lived experiences of people with disabilities by focusing on the idea of difference rather than addressing the need for equity and accessibility.
  • Dismisses the social context: It may inadvertently downplay the need for systemic changes to improve accessibility and inclusion

Additional References

These sources offer different perspectives to understand the complexities of disability language and the importance of respectful and accurate terminology:

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