Why I Spell Disability with A Capital ‘D’

Posted in Thinking out Loud
A picture of a group of people in wheelchairs looking at the camera. They are facing opposite directions and are all lined up together.
A picture of a group of people in wheelchairs looking at the camera by cottonbro studio via Pexels.com

Hey, guys! Welcome back to The Wheelchair Teen (even though I’m technically not a teenager anymore 😊). I’ve started spelling Disability with a capital ‘D’ out of respect for my community. It is used to represent the shared identity of people with Disabilities as we stand together to continue to fight for our rights and equality. It’s a reminder of the discrimination we constantly face and how we won’t allow ourselves to be defined by it. A reminder of our pride, culture, heritage, and history. It’s similar to how when we’re referring to the colour black we use a lowercase ‘b’, but when referring to Black people and Black culture we use a capital one.

This quote from Steven Brown says it best: “People with Disabilities have forged a group identity, we share a common history of oppression and a common bond of resilience. We generate art, music, and literature and other expressions of our lives and our culture infused from our experiences of Disability. Most importantly, we are proud of ourselves as people with Disabilities. We claim our Disabilities with pride as part of our identities. We are who we are. We are people with Disabilities.”

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But aren’t Disabilities a bad thing?

Most people think that Disabilities are bad things and Disabled people are burdens on society. Disability culture and history are seen as inferior to other cultures. Some even argue that it’s non-existent. That Disabilities are only things to be ashamed of instead of celebrated like other forms of diversity. They believe that there’s only one way for a human body to look like and one way for it to work and anything else is incorrect rather than simply different like how people’s ethnicities or sexual orientations can be different. I agree with activist Aurora Levins Morales when she says there is “no neutral body from which our bodies deviate.” Bodies can’t be wrong, they can only be different.

Me drawing with a pen in my mouth at a desk with a headwrap on
Me drawing with a pen in my mouth

There is no ‘right or wrong’ way to listen to music – whether it’s done by hearing or feeling through vibrations like some Deaf people do. There is no ‘right or wrong’ way to create art – whether it’s through holding a paintbrush in your hand or in your mouth like I do. Processing social situations in a different way or working in crip time to replenish your spoons is not wrong, it’s just different from the nondisabled experience. And different can be beautiful. Different should be celebrated.

If you are nondisabled, it’s presumptuous and small-minded to assume all Disabled people must want to be like you. That our culture and way of life are inferior to yours. That we need to be ‘healed’ or ‘cured’ so that we can look and act exactly like you do. Different does not mean bad – different just means different, no matter what lies society preaches about Disability.

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So can Disabilities be a good thing?

A photo of my curled fingers
A photo of my curled fingers

“Disability is a natural and fundamental part of human diversity.” We are unbelievably valuable to society. This world would not be the place that it is without the inventions we’ve created, our art, and the Disabled people throughout history who have made this world a better place. We are valuable in the same way that all diversity is valuable: we open up fresh, unexplored paths of thought, experience, and creativity.

For example, the famous scientist Temple Grandin who is autistic says it was her unique brain that helped her to advance livestock science to be more humane. We hold ourselves back when we put energy into hiding our limping, stimming, and drooling. Imagine what more we could do if we fully embraced the parts of ourselves that society tries to correct and force to work in the same way nondisabled people do.

A photo of me smiling with my limp wrists and curled fingers on either side of my face
A photo of me embracing the beauty of my limp wrists and curled fingers

But, in general, people with Disabilities do tend to have more difficult lives. For so much of my life, I thought that the problem was me. I was taught to hate my ‘incorrect’ body and that it was the cause of all of my pain. But now I know the problem was never me. If there was no ableism or inaccessibility in my life, my Disability would not be a source of hardship for me. Patty Berne, a fierce queer Disabled activist of colour, states that: “What oppresses us is living in a system which disregards us, is violent towards us, essentially wants to subjugate our bodies or kill us. That’s oppressive. My body doesn’t oppress me…”

Our bodies are not the problem, they never were. I can’t change my body and I don’t want to. It’s beautiful in its uniqueness. But society around me – that should and must change to accept and celebrate bodies like mine.

A picture of me in my wheelchair smiling and a picture of me hugging myself with the Cara Page quote: “Unapologetically love all of your parts, without exception, without judgment. Welcome the possibilities that you are whole and perfect, that we are whole and perfect.”
A picture of me in my wheelchair smiling and a picture of me hugging myself with a Cara Page quote

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I’ve also stopped using the term able-bodied and now use the preferred term nondisabled to refer to anyone who isn’t Disabled. But when writing lots of blog posts constantly talking about Disabled and nondisabled people, it can become a bit of an earful. And also a lot of repetition of the word ‘disabled’. I used to shorten the term ‘nondisabled people’ to ‘NDs’ when speaking. This eventually morphed into ‘aNDys’ which I now use all the time. So put simply, an aNDy is someone who doesn’t have a Disability and I’ll occasionally use that in blog posts where I repeat the term ‘nondisabled people’ a lot.

In conclusion, capitalising the ‘D’ in Disability may seem like something small but there is a lot of power behind it. My community has taught me to love every single piece of me unashamedly. They helped me to see the beauty in my curled fingers and limp wrists that I thought I’d never find. Now I’m Disabled and proud with a capital ‘D’. Thanks so much for reading ❤ What parts of you has society taught you to hide? Please let me know in the comments below. See you next week!

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Published by The Wheelchair Teen

I am a black, disabled teenager and my blog shares my personal experiences, some of the struggles and triumphs I’ve been through, as well as posts that educate people about disabilities to help end discrimination against disabled people.

79 thoughts on “Why I Spell Disability with A Capital ‘D’”

  1. So insightful & wise, & makes so much sense! Thank you for sharing this!

    I thought along these lines some time back about my C-PTSD, & it came from watching an episode of “The Walking Dead”, believe it or not! LOL A deaf woman was talking with someone about her frustration with being deaf. The other person told her it’s really a super power. She can do things others can’t, thinks of things differently than someone with hearing & I forget what all now. She basically said what you did except applied it to deafness only. But it made sense. Everyone has things they can’t do, either from Disabilities or simple shortcomings. It’s OK & we should look at them differently, not as problems needing to be fixed. Besides, if everyone could do everything, no one would need anyone but themselves.

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    1. You’re welcome! It makes me very happy that you found this post to be so insightful. You’re exactly right. Everyone has things they can’t do and everyone has things that they’re skilled at and that they can do in a way that no one else can. “It’s OK & we should look at them differently, not as problems needing to be fixed.” very true and I hope that more people start seeing it this way. Especially when people like me are constantly treated with pity – if they saw things this way they’d understand why they don’t need to. And isn’t it funny how sometimes a show or a book can completely change your world view on some things? All it takes is a line or thoughtful quote to ignite a spark in someone. .❤️

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      1. I really did find it insightful!! ❤

        I don't get treating Disabled people with pity. I mean, if someone is struggling, of course some pity is understandable, but just because someone has a Disability even when they aren't struggling??

        It is amazing when that happens! The Bible says the tongue has the power of life or death & I firmly believe it! Just a couple of words can absolutely lift someone to new heights or utterly destroy them.

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      2. Exactly, it makes no sense to treat someone like that just because they have a Disability. The Bible was definitely right – words are so extremely powerful. That’s why I write and give talks – I believe that it can make a big difference.

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    1. You’re welcome! I’m so happy you agree. You are someone who so clearly understands the beauty in people and that it should all be celebrated. Thank you so much for these words and I wish you a wonderful week ❤️🌼❤️

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  5. This is why I love your blog so much, you’re so good at educating people and helping them to understand! I definitely understand why you capitalise Disabled now, I think it’s a great symbol, metaphor even, for the unity in the community and the power it gives!

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    1. Thank you so much, Zainab. I truly appreciate this. I’m glad you were able to so clearly understand why I capitalise the ‘D’ in Disability. You’re completely right – it is a metaphor that clearly communicates our unity and power. And you are such an amazing ally. You’re always able to understand and feel for the Disability community. That’s why I love having you as a reader ❤️.

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  6. Your post has enriched my day. Thank you, Simone, for sharing your perspectives and experiences. Doing so heightens our awareness and compassion. 🙏🏻

    “Bodies can’t be wrong, they can only be different.” 💗

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    1. I’m so happy that it has. You’re very welcome, I have a passion for re-writing some of the narratives about Disability that have been portrayed by the media. Very true. And I especially feel like the WordPress community are very open to having their awareness and compassion raised. Thank you so much for these encouraging words. They truly mean a lot.

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  7. Little sister thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with us. I admire you.
    It amazes me that you can paint using your mouth to paint with the paintbrush. I seriously cannot paint anything with my hands.

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    1. You’re welcome, it truly means so much that you admire me because I admire you too. Thank you, it was a skill that was very hard to perfect which I taught myself to do when I was eleven after I lost the function in my hands because I didn’t want to lose my love of art too. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the very famous Christian advocate called Joni who uses a wheelchair and paints with a pen in her mouth? During my sister’s youth Christian group, they watched a film about her life, my sister showed it to me, and that’s where I got the idea from 😊

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  10. “In conclusion, capitalising the ‘D’ in Disability may seem like something small but there is a lot of power behind it. My community has taught me to love every single piece of me unashamedly.” — you have a beautiful approach to life.

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    1. Oh no, I’m so sorry! I hate it when that happens. “You embody love and acceptance.” what an amazing compliment! That’s truly such a moving thing to say. Thank you so much! I put my hand on my heart after reading this ❤️.

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    1. You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m happy you agree, Sometimes society is guilty of promoting a golden standard of life and beauty and forcing that onto people rather than allowing them to be themselves. I hope that you’ll have a fantastic week too 🌻.

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    1. Hello! You’re very welcome, it’s great that you found this post to be enlightening. The greatest compliment of all is that I was able to positively change someone’s mindset so I’m touched that you’ll look at Disability differently now after reading this post. Thank you so much for those kind words. I salute your open-mindedness and respect 🙋🏾‍♀️.

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  16. “Bodies can’t be wrong, they can only be different.” I absolutely loved that. And I absolutely agree that everyone has something special to offer the world. Disabled people included. I hate that they’re often seen by society as holding no value but every single person is valuable.

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    1. I’m glad that you enjoyed this. And I’m happy you agree – everyone has skills and talents that are indispensable to humanity. I hate it too. A lot of it has to do with capitalism. But Disabled people don’t need to reach a capitalist benchmark of success in order to be seen as valuable.

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      1. Oh no. I’ve seen this happen to other people at times, too. And isn’t that just rude that it’s happening and say “Nonce?” lol 🤍🤍 I will see if I can fix it. Let’s hope I can. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. No worries 😊 Let me know if you manage to. For now, this is what I tried to comment on your latest story:
        I really enjoyed reading this story 😊 It’s sad that she regretted giving the baby up. I’m not sure her successful nail business will take away that pain but I hope she finds what she’s looking for.

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  20. “Nondisabled!” That’s so great! 👌👍😆

    I watched a TED talk by a legless woman who is also a world champion runner. She started her talk by reading the dictionary definitions of “disabled.” Boy, that can get pretty entertaining when it’s done with eyebrows raised and a “WTF?” tone in the voice… Eventually she got to the word “abnormal,” and there she just stopped.

    “What’s ‘normal’ anyway?” she asked the audience. “And who would want to be that boring white bread person?”

    You remind me of her.

    Love the BOW!!! YOU rock it! 😄

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    1. Ha! I love that! She’s definitely on the right track. There’s not really such thing as normal, and if it does exist, I’m glad not to be it. Thank you so much, I’m glad you like the bow 😊 Have a great weekend! ❤️

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  21. You are an incredible writer, and what you share here is such important information. Thank you for your blog! BTW, I’ve tried several times to follow you and don’t seem to be able to. I’ll try again later.

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    1. Thank you so much, I’m very passionate about raising awareness about Disabilities because even though we are the biggest minority group in the world, we also seem to be the minority group that people are the most uneducated about. And don’t worry, I have received your subscription and I greatly appreciate it.

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  22. I studied social work in the 1990s and one of my teachers said: it’s not people who are disabled its society that disables people.” and I think its outrageous that we still disable anyone who doesn’t fit a supposed “right” body, gender, nationality, religion etc. We should know so much better. I survived sexual abuse in my childhood and always felt I need to hide my whole being because I felt damaged, inadequat and I simply could not fit in anywhere. I am glad to have found your blog. It will teach me a lot. Thanks for sharing your story 🥰

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    1. Your teacher was definitely thinking along the right tracks – Disabled people are more oppressed by society than by our bodies. I think its outrageous too. It’s so sad that we live in a world that encourages people to fit in by being what they’re not rather than embracing what makes everyone different and unique. I’m so sorry that you faced abuse in your childhood. I am extremely touched that you’ve been able to get something out of reading my story. You’re welcome, it’s honestly my pleasure.

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    1. 100%. Everyone in society are given labels and are taught to be ashamed of something or the other rather than to embrace and celebrate all parts of ourselves as we should. It’s completely understandable to have things about yourself you want to hide. I hope you also have plenty of situations in your life where you feel able to accept and embrace those things too.

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  30. Excellent post! I have become disabled 4 years ago, and for these 4 years I have been like paralyzed: I didn’t like my body, myself, my life. Only now have I begun to accept myself as disabled and percieve my disability as a part of me. So now, after 4 years, I can finally say that no, there is nothing I would hide about myself any more 👍😊

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    1. Thank you! 😊 I’m glad that you’ve reached the point where you’re starting to accept yourself and your Disability. It’s not an easy journey, it took me many years too. I commend you for that and you’re absolutely right – there’s nothing about you that you should hide 💪🏾❤️

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