Disability is Not a Dirty Word

Article By: Tariana Trosin / Art By: Adriel Malaca

“Disabled” is not a dirty word; yes, I absolutely despise the phrase “differently abled.”

People have told me before “No honey, you're not disabled, you're differently abled” in reference to my autism diagnosis. How does my delayed speech make me “differently abled?” In other words, what other ability do I possess in comparison to that of a neurotypical person? I lack something that the typical neurotypical person has—autism hinders and limits me. My “differently abled” caliber surely isn't my handicap parking spot. Or sensory overload. Or my heightened capacity of not understanding social cues. How would one work around being clearly disabled when in the presence of a child on the lower-functioning end of the spectrum? 

People say that to try to be nice, but really, it is condescending. It masks the stark reality of being disabled, and in turn, romanticizing disabilities. Tell me the sentence “no honey, you're not disabled, you're differently abled” doesn't sound degrading, almost as if that person was talking to a child, a toddler. It is degrading. 

I am disabled, and that is okay. Disabled is not a dirty word.