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If you’re someone who makes a point to beconscientious in your communication, it may be shocking to realize that you’re unknowingly using ableist language. We’re sometimes so used to hearing and seeing previous generations use ableist words that, without thought, we pick them up ourselves.

However, ableist language can be harmful to people with disabilities. Learn what this language entails so you can better recognize and avoid it in your own speech, as well as alternative words that are better to use instead.

What Is Ableist Language?

Ableism is centered around the notion that people with disabilities are imperfect and need fixing. It can show up on both personal and institutional levels and includes the many ways in which people with disabilities are considered “less than” people without impairments.

At its core,ableism is a form of discrimination. This discrimination can be intentional or unintentional and is based on the belief that people without disabilities are superior to people with these impairments.

It’s important to understand that ableist language has negative impacts, and these impacts occur even when we aren’t talking specifically about people with disabilities when we use them.

Types of Ableist Language

Ableist language typically falls into one of the two categories: words or phrases based on physical disabilities and words or phrases based on neurodivergence.

Ableist Words and Phrases Based on Physical Disabilities

Ableist language involves the use of words that have some reference toa physical or visible disability. This type of disability may affect the entire body or a certain body part.

For example, some use the expression “the blind leading the blind” to refer to people who don’t know what they’re doing. This may seem harmless but it enforces an untrue idea that people with a vision disability can’t be in charge or take on leadership roles.

Here are some other common words people use that are ableist in a physical sense:

Ableist Words and Phrases Based on Neurodivergence

Ableist terminology can also be rooted in how different brains work. This type may be used to describepeople who are neurodivergent. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition involving obsessive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors. But we use this phrase colloquially about everyday things.

We might say that someone is “OCD about cleaning,” meaning they clean their house often and thoroughly. Or we say we are “so obsessed” with things like someone’s hair color or item of clothing, even if we have never seen them before and will never see that item again.

When we use these words about differences in mental health, we minimize the experiences of people with veryreal mental health conditions. And because many forms of neurodiversity are not visible to outsiders, we may be unknowingly using these words around people with the same conditions we’re mocking.

Alternatives to Ableist Words

Now that you have a greater understanding of what ableist language is and why it’s hurtful, you may be wondering what to do about it. The best place to start is to recognize which words in your vocabulary should be swapped out for words that are more sensitive.

In that vein, here is a handy list of words that are ableist and suggestions for what to say instead.

Instead of SayingStupid, retarded, etc.DumbCrazy, nuts, psycho, etc.I’m so OCD.I’m obsessed with X.I’m ADD about X.LameBlind leading the blindFalling on deaf earsBarrenCrippledDerpSay ThisIgnorant, denseIgnorant, denseBizarre, outrageousI’m particular.I’m enamored with X.I’m unfocused.Boring, unexcitingUnknowledgeableYou didn’t hear me.Desolate, unfruitfulDisabledIgnorant, dense

Instead of SayingStupid, retarded, etc.DumbCrazy, nuts, psycho, etc.I’m so OCD.I’m obsessed with X.I’m ADD about X.LameBlind leading the blindFalling on deaf earsBarrenCrippledDerp

Stupid, retarded, etc.

Dumb

Crazy, nuts, psycho, etc.

I’m so OCD.

I’m obsessed with X.

I’m ADD about X.

Lame

Blind leading the blind

Falling on deaf ears

Barren

Crippled

Derp

Say ThisIgnorant, denseIgnorant, denseBizarre, outrageousI’m particular.I’m enamored with X.I’m unfocused.Boring, unexcitingUnknowledgeableYou didn’t hear me.Desolate, unfruitfulDisabledIgnorant, dense

Ignorant, dense

Bizarre, outrageous

I’m particular.

I’m enamored with X.

I’m unfocused.

Boring, unexciting

Unknowledgeable

You didn’t hear me.

Desolate, unfruitful

Disabled

These suggestions are meant to convey the same meanings as the ableist words, but you may find that some options work better in certain settings than others.

No, Disabled People Are Not Better Off Dead

Tips for Changing Ableist Language

Change is challenging, but it is possible! Here are some tips to integrate more respectful words into your personal lexicon.

Get Support From Friends

Create a Challenge

Getting away from ableist language helps uscommunicate more inclusively.Post on your social, write an email, or send a group text about your decision and ask others to join you in stopping the use of ableist language.

Pick a duration of time that seems viable, like an hour, a day, or a week, and challenge yourself and anyone interested to not use any ableist words for that period of time. Once that’s gone successfully, create a longer challenge. Before you know it, those words will be history!

Practice Makes Practiced

There’s no such thing as perfect when it comes to humans, and that’s okay. Don’t plan on succeeding at this immediately as these are words that we have often been conditioned to use every day.

Awareness and Allyship: It’s a New Day for Neurodiversity

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Janz HL.Ableism: the undiagnosed malady afflicting medicine.CMAJ. 2019;191(17):E478-E479. doi:10.1503/cmaj.180903Collins dictionary.Dumb.Merriam-Webster.Lame.Collins dictionary.Spastic.Feeney BC, Collins NL. Anew look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships.Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 2014;19(2):113-147. doi:10.1177/1088868314544222Manalili MAR.Ableist ideologies stifle neurodiversity and hinder inclusive education.J Autistic Cult. 2021;3(1):22-36. doi:10.9707/2833-1508.1072

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Janz HL.Ableism: the undiagnosed malady afflicting medicine.CMAJ. 2019;191(17):E478-E479. doi:10.1503/cmaj.180903Collins dictionary.Dumb.Merriam-Webster.Lame.Collins dictionary.Spastic.Feeney BC, Collins NL. Anew look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships.Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 2014;19(2):113-147. doi:10.1177/1088868314544222Manalili MAR.Ableist ideologies stifle neurodiversity and hinder inclusive education.J Autistic Cult. 2021;3(1):22-36. doi:10.9707/2833-1508.1072

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Janz HL.Ableism: the undiagnosed malady afflicting medicine.CMAJ. 2019;191(17):E478-E479. doi:10.1503/cmaj.180903Collins dictionary.Dumb.Merriam-Webster.Lame.Collins dictionary.Spastic.Feeney BC, Collins NL. Anew look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships.Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 2014;19(2):113-147. doi:10.1177/1088868314544222Manalili MAR.Ableist ideologies stifle neurodiversity and hinder inclusive education.J Autistic Cult. 2021;3(1):22-36. doi:10.9707/2833-1508.1072

Janz HL.Ableism: the undiagnosed malady afflicting medicine.CMAJ. 2019;191(17):E478-E479. doi:10.1503/cmaj.180903

Collins dictionary.Dumb.

Merriam-Webster.Lame.

Collins dictionary.Spastic.

Feeney BC, Collins NL. Anew look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships.Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 2014;19(2):113-147. doi:10.1177/1088868314544222

Manalili MAR.Ableist ideologies stifle neurodiversity and hinder inclusive education.J Autistic Cult. 2021;3(1):22-36. doi:10.9707/2833-1508.1072

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