i am a person who finds it hard to get out and about,but dont like the word disabled,what do you think?

Question

i am a person who finds it hard to get out and about,but dont like the word disabled,what do you think?

Answer 1

sorry but i think the word is quite apt.

all this ultra pc crap is doing my head in (dwarfs are now 'vertically challenged' etc)

the word is used to describe a person who does not have full use of 'all their body parts'.

yes, it covers a massive amount of problems and yes, people to tend to catergorise here, but get rid of the word and you will basically need a whole new way of describing everyone with a 'problem'

someone mentioned the wheelchir problem....totally agree on that, my brother in law has cerebal palsy (mental and physical)....he must be the closest thing to an alien most people have seen judging by the reactions when we take him anywhere.

met a bloke many years ago, he was wheelchair bound and i had to call and see him one day, here he is 'scuttling' around on the floor fitting a kitchen.

disability is only a word and many able bodied should hang their heads in shame with all this pretend bad backs etc just to get a life on the sick.

Answer 2

I feel the same way. Disabled is a negative word, it focusses on the things that you cant do, making it sound like you are not able to do anything. Its also a word personally I feel that makes me feel more negative about myself. Long term illness or health problems are better terms because disabled just means no longer able...and I dont know any people who are no longer able to do anything - everyone has gifts and talents and abilities that they can still do despite illness and problems and some of them excel where the non disableds fail. Its all down to perception at the end of the day, but yes, I think its a negative word. Its a label that writes people off.

Answer 3

Well I am also 'disabled' (due to a heart and lung condition I have had since birth). Yes there are many things I am unable to do, like walk to the end of the road I live on without getting tired and having to stop for example. I can understand why many people find the term 'disabled' offensive, however it has not stopped me getting a degree, having good jobs etc, as I believe I am a rather intellegent person. (unlike most of the more 'athletic' people I have met over the years). I am currently awaiting being put on the transplant list, but I do have reservations about this as I believe in the right to be an individual and all I ever hear is doctors telling me how they can make me 'better' which I do find majorly degrading as they don't know me as a person and are making assumptions based on what they believe is the 'correct' (there is only one way to be properly human y'know, no other way is acceptable). They make it sound like there is something WRONG with you, (er, excuse me I was BORN like this), and only they with their miracle powers can make you RIGHT. I personally do not find their attitude very helpful at all as it tends to imply their superiority over you and sometimes that can be rather off putting as well. As for the words disabled, handicapped, challenged, they are all very much words that people use to generalise the wide variety of problems people have. How about if they stopped generalising and took time to really try and speak to the person concerned and find out a bit about them and their daily lives and problems, I'm sure they would be wary of putting that banner on everyone because they would realise the wide variety of 'abilities' and solutions people find to their problems in order to survive daily life.

Answer 4

Same here then for many years I could hide the fact that I was, but now it is obvious. I walk w/a cane and can easily stumble if I am not careful.

I am to the point now that I no longer care what others think and I hope that you can afford to feel the same some day.



Even though there are laws in place 4 us...trying to prove discrimination is really hard when all u want to do is work.



When I met my husband 4 years ago, I waited until things were getting close before I sat him down & told him and then I instisted that he that aleast a week to digest it all. My honesty paid off & now I have been married 1 year this month.



Being w/someone disabiled is not everyone's 'cup of tea', but there are still some people who can handle it, afterall it IS ME WHO HAS TO LIVE WITH IT EVERYDAY.

Answer 5

I mean no offence, and seriously, I don't mean it offensively, but the term means "less able", and by your own admission that is the case.



If there is a stigma that is attached to the term, it would be the same stigma that is whatever you call it.



Once upon a time, the term "cripple" would have been applied to someone with mobility problems, and this has now been replaced by "disabled" - however - the association with the word has transferred across to it.



If there is something that is more preferable, I would happily adopt it, but I think the stigma would just move over to it as well.



I found this really tough to write, in case it comes across as unsympathetic or callous or at worst, mocking. I assure you this isn't meant to be the case.

Answer 6

well unfortunately it is a word that classifies your condition, thus being disabled-preventing you from being able to do things independently....i went through a time where i hated being different, treated different, considered mentaly challenged just because i was physically challenged but i had to come to a realization that i was disabled and that there is nothing i can do about it....i make things work for me even when they wont because otherwise i would just let the small things keep me down......one thing i will not accept is being 'crippled' because i only have a disability and that doesnt stop me from going to the mall (well sometimes it does on the bad days, but that comes with the territory), going to the movies etc. dont let it stop you!! make the path to do what you want to do....

Answer 7

I think I understand what you are saying. I have trouble getting out as well but I hate to tell people I'm disabled. I also hate it when my nurse says I need a "life alert necklace?" ( it's a button I can push to get help) I have always been sooo independent and now I need help to get my freekin mail and groceries. So I lock myself away which makes everything worse. The more inactive I am the more problems I have. this is only part of my problems. My whole body fell apart at the same time then my mind followed. lol If you need me let me know.

Answer 8

Why not there are lots of disabled people about. I had to go to hospital today and because I am disabled they sent a car for me. I did not have get a taxi to the train station, then the train, and after that the bus, and then another taxi. Don't let yourself get to down about being disabled it will only lead to depression, when I was in the car I pretended to my self I was the Queen with my chauffeur. Just remember smile and the world smiles with you cry and you cry alone

Cheer up and learn to live with your disabilities.

Answer 9

It is a double edged sword. I find it hard to get out and about too as i am agoraphobic. I have sometimes been described as disabled as it stops me from functioning but i dont have a physical disability. When i get forms they usually say do you consider yourself to be disabled i put no but once i went for a job interview and said i did not consider myself to be disabled and they told me i might stand a better chance of getting a job if i said i was. However i have never used my disability to give myself an advantage in this way.

Answer 10

the word has never bothered me. I lost a leg about 60 years ago and I think the main disability is in the mind. If you just carry on and do what you want to do then what does it matter what word people use. It is certainly better than "crippled" which used to be the commonly used word.

Answer 11

I do not use the word, or other euphemisms, which, yes do apply to me. When I talk to people who haven't yet met me, - IF IT COMES UP IN CONVERSATION - I will say "I walk with a cane." or "I cannot use public transportation." or, "I really don't have alot of balance."



This eliminates alot of prejudice which the LABEL for the disability would have caused.



Many people since I began doing this, about 7 years ago have assumed that my cane is due to a motor vehicle or skiing accident and not due to birth trauma.



The automatic pitying look is much diminished...

Answer 12

I never like using the term. We all have a disability of some sort. I avoid referencing to as disability as best I can. I like the term differently-abled.

Answer 13

i agree with you and i sympathise alot. i think that in a way the word 'disabled' shouldnt effect you in any way as long as you know what your doing because you are in charge of your own life and only you can choose how you look at it. yeah ok, you cant get out and about but you still have love and emotion and no one can take that away from you. are you in a wheelchair? what ever it is, good luck for the future.

Answer 14

I don't know what you disability is, if you have a phobia you can use the term special needs because you do have special needs in the way of helping you in your day to day living if you have a fear of getting out of your home.

Answer 15

If you are feeling that the term 'disabled' has an element of stigma for you,



how about referring to yourself as having 'reduced mobility'



I myself have debillitating illnesses and very reduced mobility, but owning an exceptional sense of humour , refer to myself as a " raspberry".( as in slang terms: raspberry ripple = cripple )



I, and others don`t have a problem with it, and as always a humourous remark is a good ice - breaker !

Answer 16

I am the same and have severe RA, but i don't mind the word disabled, as if I'm being honest with myself its what i now am, whether i like it nor not !!.

Answer 17

well then call yourself healed and believe that you are. Even though you don't see any signs of it. Believe on the Lord and believe in His Word, and believe in His power. Touch your self in the morning and say "self, you are healed because God says you are. Don't you know that He will do just what you ask Him to. You don't have to stay where you are, and when He delivers you, you tell everyone you know that God did it. Not the doctor, no one but the Almighty!

Answer 18

My sister is dis-abled and it seems such an old-fashioned word to use now. Dont u agree? i dont no wot the alternative is but if i come up with one then i will let u no xx

Answer 19

disabled does make u sound a bit useless. physically challenged is worse, like ur trying to get round ur disability somehow. try: "poliaratus gotas syndrome"

Answer 20

there are,nt many words you could use for not being able to do certain things,unable,not abled,disabled,i think the latter is the only one to describe not being able bodied.

Answer 21

Well, I always thought the term "technical difficulties" applied best. They aren't a bad thing, they just are and you end up having to work around them.

Answer 22

Disabled handicapped is fine with me. I don't let it stop me from doing things.

Answer 23

we are all disabled in some way either physically or mentally

Answer 24

Geographicaly stagnant.

Answer 25

I agree with john A.

Answer 26

my wife is wheelchair bound, and i must say it don't bother us, what does is how people treat you as if your contagious, i hope i spelt that right, but they stare, they avoid, and they make life difficult for you in shops, which are suppose to wheelchair assessable

Answer 27

I agree. My husband says "early retirement".

Answer 28

ok, try go out! meet new people and freind that got same ur disabilty, dont forget we all equal!

Answer 29

I prefer `lessabled`.

Answer 30

Don't let a label define you. you know what your ABLE to do.

Answer 31

How about 'physically challenged'?

Answer 32

impaired maybe.