What is it called, disabled persons, handicapped, handi-capable, differently abled?

[dan_nc]

I was trying to find the thread on this discussion but had some trouble finding the right keywords. What is the preferred term?

I've referred to my spinal cord injury as a handicap and never really gave the different labels that much thought. Perhaps mobility challenged?

I know this isn't really limited to english either. Another website I'm on had a debate on whether it was more correct to use the term "Personnes Ã* Mobilité Réduite" or "personnes handicapées."

What do you think?

[Le Todd]

I hate the term handicap, I actually prefer crip (though offensive to some).

[dan_nc]

I say "gimpin'" a lot, and I've never been one for labels. I've recently learned that it's offensive, even in self-identification.

[Aly]

A friend used to call me handi-capable all the time. I didn't know it was a real word. I kind of like that one.

[Juke_spin]

I'm partial to "plegics" for a semiformal feeling term and "wheelers" for an offhand one.

[addiesue]

I don't know that I call myself anything. Usually I just say I'm paralyzed. Doesn't seem as negative for some reason. It's something that happened to me not something that describes me. Well I guess it's both but I think you get what I mean.

I think crip is one of those words that bothers some and not others. Or a word you can often use in your own "group" but don't really want a stranger calling you. But that is just me.

For example I recently found out that someone on my ex's side has been calling me the crip. This came out when my son asked me what it meant. I was angry. Mainly because I am sure they were badmouthing. It also annoyed me at work when someone identified me as the little crippled girl. Don't know why. But if my friend who I eat lunch with some says hey crip it doesn't bother me becasue he's laughing while doing it. He's also in a chair.

[dan_nc]

AFAIK, the word "handicapped" is offensive because of its derivation. The origin of the word is from the old British "hand in cap", which referred to beggars.

[betheny]

Eewwww, little crippled girl? Nobody but Aunt Marge and Grandma get to call me that, and they're past calling me anything!

I don't find I care. Used to call myself crip, then found it offended a friend so I quit.

[Juke_spin]

AFAIK, the word "handicapped" is offensive because of its derivation. The origin of the word is from the old British "hand in cap", which referred to beggars.

Dan, but since almost nobody knows that, can "we" really feel insulted by its use. People, even those with good vocabularies, are rarely into word derivations.

[chick]

Just whatever you prefer.

The typical use is "disabled" or "person with a disability", etc. for checking off forms and such and identifying yourself in some formal or official capacity.

Crip is just a casual term, short for crippled, which is just a physical description anf not offensive. Just a bit inappropriate for strangers to use that to refer to me, but I've never had anyone IRL refer to me as a crip anyway. I'm the only one that says it in my world (real life), but only say it sometimes with very few. Think it makes most folk more uncomfortable than if I just say disabled.

Gimp is just.... dorky and dumb. Not offensive to me personally. Just Dorky and dumb. So people using it looks to me like they are referring to themselves negatively. To each their own.


btw. Dan. I remember when I first had to really identify myself, on the phone to someone, and I was stuck when I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to say -- thinking... am I "disabled"... "handicapped"...? "what am I"? I might have been more concerned about not offending the person I was talking to, not myself.