Disability 101

This week, we will be taking a brief dive into disability - specifically looking at societal views of and language used around it, types of disability and discrimination, and how to support disabled people. Of course, disability is a very large topic, and so things will be left out, but this is intended as more of a 101 than a comprehensive guide.

First, language. Language used by most able-bodied people to talk about disability is not as inclusive as one might think. Terms such as “handicapped” “differently abled” “handi-capable” and “special needs” are not preferred by the disabled community, for reasons ranging from infantilization to an avoidance of the subject of disability altogether. While many don’t realize it, it is okay to just say disabled when referring to a person, and accessible when referring to something made with disabled people in mind (i.e., parking).

Another common language snafu is the issue of person-first language, i.e. saying a person who is disabled rather than a disabled person. There is not as strong of a consensus on this, and what someone prefers will often depend on personal experience and identity. However, many are moving away from person-first language, as they feel it can minimize the way in which disability impacts their lives.

While there are endless areas we could discuss in terms of disability and language, one final one that will be covered here is how to talk to disabled people - that is, just like anyone else! Many may think that they need to talk slowly or very loudly when speaking with a disabled person, even when that person does not have a disability related to hearing or cognition. If someone asks you to change how you speak around them, that is certainly something you should do. However, disability is not one size fits all, and holding this assumption can be a detriment to your interactions.

Building off of language is the concept of disability itself. How one defines disability will vary from person to person. However, there are two main models of disability utilized by most: the social model and the medical model. The social model views disability as a result of an unaccommodating society, and argues that if barriers were removed, disabled people would be able to be independent and equal in society. The medical model, which is more commonly utilized in general society, views disability as a personal deficit, and as something that should be fixed. When most of us think about disability, we probably think about it in terms of the medical model. However, consider adjusting your frameworks - the social model is here to stay.

Like with language, there is a lot to cover when it comes to types of disability, and we could be here all day if we tried to discuss everything in detail. Instead, we will look at 4 main ways disability can be categorized. First, visible vs. invisible. When someone is asked to visualize a disabled person, they often think of someone in a wheelchair. This is an example of a visible disability, as is someone who walks with a cane, uses oxygen, etc - when you look at a person, you notice that there is something “different” about them. However, not all disabilities are visible. Someone may also have a disability that you wouldn’t notice just by looking at them. This could be a gastrointestinal disorder, connective tissue disorder, etc - they still may need accommodations or have to navigate the world differently than an able-bodied person. If someone with an invisible disability requires mobility aid or externally visible treatment, their disability could become visible. However, the big takeaway here is that you can’t know someone’s disability status just from a glance. As an aside, going up to someone and asking “what’s wrong with you” or a similar question is not good practice either. People are not required to disclose their medical history to you, and what is important for you to know is if there are any accommodations someone may need, not why they need them.

The other main dichotomy we will discuss is mental versus physical disabilities. Physical disabilities generally impact the body and its movement and function - examples of this are paraplegia, limb amputation, etc. Mental disabilities generally impact brain function and cognition - examples of this are ADHD, bipolar disorder, etc. Whether a person with a certain condition chooses to identify as disabled is up to them, but if they do, it is generally either a physical or mental disability.

As has been hinted at throughout this post, disabled people face a lot of discrimination - AKA ableism - in the world. Since the social model of disability is not the norm, accomadations often have to be fought for, and most things are not designed with disabled people in mind. Even with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, there are still a lot of issues. For example, if someone is on disability benefits, they cannot save money above a certain amount or get married without losing those benefits. Medically necessary devices and treatments are often prohibitively expensive and/or not covered by insurance. Immunocompromised and high-risk people are still ignored when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, and overall there is a lot that needs to change for society to be accessible.

If you’ve enjoyed learning about disability and want to do more, consider supporting disabled creators and thinkers on the internet and in real life, doing small things to make spaces you frequent more accessible, and standing up for disability rights.