DEI Collab: What is in a Label?

The labels that we use to describe people with exceptionalities are often inappropriate; however, by discussing these labels we can educate ourselves on what is appropriate and least harmful to those around us. When it comes to acknowledging our classmates, coworkers, friends or family that are exceptional, what is the appropriate way to talk about our differences? This is a question that I, and many others, struggle with. You want to be kind and respectful, but that can be hard to do when no one ever teaches you what that looks like. In our generation and previous generations there have been many terms coined such as “differently-abled,” “cripple,” “crippled,” “victim,” “retarded,” “stricken,” “poor,” “unfortunate, “and “special needs”. Most of these, you will look at and immediately understand why they are degrading and harmful labels. Others you might wonder, “what does it hurt, if they know what I am trying to say?” You can pull into a Walmart parking lot and see “handicapped” parking spots; But does that mean people who utilize those spots should be labeled and referred to as a “handicapped person”? The answer is no. The most appropriate language is ever developing and not every person you meet will be comfortable with the same label. An article written by Angela Oswalt Morelli discusses the harmfulness of poor labeling on children with disabilities and how it can affect them long term: “Disability labels focus on what students cannot do, not on what they can do, and therefore can encourage children to think of themselves as incomplete or inadequate and to contribute to the development of low self-esteem.” Disability is one of the most modern of the respectful terms that we should be using to describe those around us that have ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), Down Syndrome, or other social or cognitive differences; However, it is also important to understand, not only the correct word, but how it should be used. The small change of saying, “Rebecca has a disability” instead of “Rebecca is disabled.” In what may seem like a minor deviation in verbs, you have separated the person from their disability. This differentiation is critical because you are not boxing in someone and saying that their disability is their only personality trait. Instead, you call them who they are, but also acknowledge that their disability is something that they live with. Someone that educated me greatly on this difference was a teenage girl, @paigelayle on TikTok, a popular content sharing platform. She uses her platform to debunk comments about women with ASD. Watching her videos gave quite a bit of perspective on the way that we can inadvertently say things that are dehumanizing and harmful. By changing our verbiage, we can talk using labels that are informative and not destructive. Another thing she brings up is the fact that not every person you meet that has a disability is going to be offended by what you say, but by using neutral and unproblematic language tools, you can foster an environment that makes everyone feel safe, respected, and welcomed. Behind the labels we use are people. So, let these individuals be appreciated for who they are and not just the labels they come with.

References:

Morelli, Angela Oswalt. Criticisms of disability labeling. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://www.gracepointwellness.org/1275-childhood-special-education/article/36216-criticisms-of-disability-labeling