BIKERS CLUB MAY 2019 ISSUE | Page 37

I AM DIFFERENTLY ABLED, NOT DISABLED I CHOOSE NOT TO PLACE "DIS" IN MY ABILITY I am Differently Abled, Not Disabled Disabled vs. Differently abled When a loved one is diagnosed with a medical condition, there are many questions that emerge. What does this mean for their future? Will they cope in the real world? How will your life change after this revelation? How do you deal with someone who is different from others? The term 'disabled' is often associated with people diagnosed with different kinds of mental and physical conditions. The term isn't exactly incorrect - these conditions that often restrict normal functioning in social situations. But are we right in calling them disabled? The first thing that comes to mind when labelling someone as 'disabled' is the action itself. People aren't and shouldn't be labelled as anything, least of all disabled. When someone is diagnosed with a condition (like autism), they aren't autistic, they HAVE autism. who they are as a person is not impacted by medical condition and it surely doesn't contribute to their identity. While the labelling aspect is important to some, it isn't to most others. The term disabled has not been favoured in recent times with several alternatives cropping up. One of these is seeing more favour than others - 'differently abled'. This term is inclusive and offers and equal platform to those who fall under it.