Terminology

There a lot of words related to the disabled community and its members that are constantly changing as time goes on. It can be a bit confusing to try and navigate medical, social, historical, and slang terms without some guidance. This section is full of various terms, their definitions, and context if necessary.

Disability

*Federal Definition
An impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Neuroatypical

Someone that has a mind that functions differently than the standard of the "normal" mind.

Disability Inclusion

Movements to further include historically under-represented groups in the Disability Justice movement.

Neurodiverse (ND)

Having a mind that functions differently from the concept of the "normal" mind.

Disabled

*Federal Definition
Someone with one or more impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities.

Neurotypical (NT)

Someone that has a mind that functions within the standard of the "normal" mind.

Asperger's

An outdated medical term for Autism that has been proven to be inaccurate and offensive.

Infantilization

The act of "infantilizing" or treating disabled folks as if they were children. Often used to deny autonomy.

Neurodiversity

The diversity of the human brain. The countless ways that our brains can differ from one another.

Disability Justice

A movement that works towards removing barriers and creating a more accepting society for disabled folks.

Neurodiversity Paradigm

The view that neurodiversity is natural, there is not a "normal" brain type, and what has been created around neurodiversity is similar to what has been created around other diversities (ethnicity, gender, etc).

Warning!

Terms listed below the encircled exclamation point under this statement are of a more sensitive nature. They have meanings and usages that have been used to hurt others or have been found offensive. While knowledge is important, that does not mean that kindness cannot co-exist in the same space. Please use caution when exploring these terms for both your own sake and that of others.

Cripple/Crip

A term and it's shortened version that were originally used to refer to disabled folks derogatorily. Some members of the disabled community have started to reclaim this term.

Retard

Originally a medical term, it has been used to derogatorily refer to those with mental-related disabilities.

Aspie

A derogatory way of referring to people diagnosed with Asperger's.

Freak

A term originally used to derogatorily refer to those different from the "norm". Some members of the disabled community have started to reclaim this term.