Read on Twitter
I analysed one month of Low Traffic Neighbourhood tweets which make reference to disabled people.
The results are pretty disgusting.
In only 46% of tweets, the term 'disabled people' is used. In 10% 'people with a disability', in 20% 'the disabled' and in 24% just 'disabled'
The results are pretty disgusting.
In only 46% of tweets, the term 'disabled people' is used. In 10% 'people with a disability', in 20% 'the disabled' and in 24% just 'disabled'
In the UK the disability rights movements have rejected the term 'people with disabilities'. It was produced by non-disabled people within a medical model of disability, in which disability is understood as an individual’s personal problem that needs to be cured.
The use of the terms 'the disabled' and just 'disabled' don't even deserve a response. WTF. Don't do this.
Disabled people is identity-first. If you are making reference to disabled people, use this term. It has emerged from the social model of disability and recognises that disability is produced through societal conditions.
A few other things
Non-disabled is the opposite of disabled. Abled or able-bodied is not.
Using able-bodied reduces disability to only physical impairment. This misses neurodiversity, mental illness, chronic illness and invisible disabilities.
Non-disabled is the opposite of disabled. Abled or able-bodied is not.
Using able-bodied reduces disability to only physical impairment. This misses neurodiversity, mental illness, chronic illness and invisible disabilities.
Disabled people are many things at the same time. A lot of the sentiment expressed when talking about disabled people is just plain shit:
"disabled or hard working"
"disabled or working"
"disabled and vulnerable"
"no respect for disabled & working professionals"
"disabled or hard working"
"disabled or working"
"disabled and vulnerable"
"no respect for disabled & working professionals"
What the language used in a lot of the tweets show is that they are written by non-disabled people who know nothing about disability.
The voices/tweets of disabled people on their experiences of LTNs (positive and negative) are being drowned out by non-disabled people.
The voices/tweets of disabled people on their experiences of LTNs (positive and negative) are being drowned out by non-disabled people.
And finally disabled people can use whatever terms they like to describe themselves. Person-first, identity-first. That's up to them. Non-disabled people, you can't.
