Words Matter: How Disability Terminology Impacts Identity and Mental Health (1/3)
- Helen Rutherford
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
We are publishing a series of blogs on Affinityhub.uk regarding disability terminology. We know this can be a complex area for disabled people and their families. We wanted to encourage reflection and share our experiences over what words are used, and why words matter. Dr. Joanna Griffin and Helen Rutherford BA Hons, Dip HE, MBACP Accred, explore this in a series of 3 blogs.
Having Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 and using a wheelchair my whole life, I’ve seen first-hand how the language around disability has evolved. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, I didn’t just witness prejudice, I felt it.
I was one of the first children in the North East of England with my level of disability to go through mainstream education, but it wasn’t handed to me. We had to fight for it. To them, my wheelchair wasn’t just about mobility, it was a barrier to learning, to opportunity, to a future. They tried to write me off before I even had the chance to prove myself. But I refused to let their assumptions define me.
Only now, looking back, do I fully realise the weight of the words spoken around me as a child. The language people used, sometimes well-meaning, sometimes dismissive. became the background noise of my life, shaping my confidence, my self-worth, my identity. At the time, I didn’t have the words to challenge it. But I felt it. And its impact stayed with me.
Language holds power
As a disabled person, I have felt how the words people use to describe disability can shape experiences, perceptions, and even self-worth. Words can uplift and empower, or they can reinforce negative stereotypes, making us feel like we are defined by limitations rather than our full, complex selves.
For years, I heard phrases like “suffers from” or “wheelchair-bound” used to describe me and others in the disability community. The impact of these words? A subtle but persistent message that disability is something tragic, something to be pitied or overcome. Over time, I realised how deeply this language impacted me and the effect it can have on identity and mental health.
I have lost count of how often people speak to me like a child, soft voices, exaggerated smiles, and slow speech. It happens in shops, medical appointments, and even professional settings. Many disabled adults experience this, treated as if we are incapable or helpless.
Thinking about the language used around disability, I see first-hand how much it influences the way we see ourselves and how others see us. Words can offer support, but they can also create barriers. My experience is just one perspective, though.
The Harm of Outdated and Negative Terms
Some terms that were once widely accepted now carry harmful connotations. Words like “handicapped,” “crippled,” “special needs,” or “afflicted by” frame disability as something tragic or
burdensome.
Other phrases, like “confined to a wheelchair,” reinforce a false narrative that disabled people are in constant pain or helpless. The truth? A wheelchair is not a prison, it is freedom. Mobility aids, assistive technology, and accessibility are not limitations; they are tools that allow us to navigate the world on our own terms.
The words we use shape how society views disability, and how disabled people see ourselves. Shifting away from outdated terms helps break down stigma and foster a culture of respect.
The Impact on Self-Identity
For many of us, embracing disability as part of our identity is empowering. It is not something to be “fixed” or “overcome.” It is simply one part of who we are.
But when we constantly hear disability framed in negative or medicalised terms, it can take a toll on self-esteem. Language influences how we internalise our experiences. When disability is always spoken about as a deficit, it is easy to start feeling like we are less than.
Through my work at Emotional Respite Disability Counselling Service, I have seen how negative language can affect a person's self-esteem, confidence, and sense of identity.
When disability is always spoken about as a deficit or a burden, it can lead to feelings of shame, low self-worth, and internalised ableism. Many clients struggle with the way they have been described by medical professionals, educators, and even family members, often without any harmful intent, but with deep emotional consequences. Ignorance cannot be an excuse for the scars that words cause. Behind these words is a negative and damaging attitudes and perception that has to evolve and change for the better.
Conversely, using affirming language helps disabled individuals embrace their identity with pride. Recognising disability as a valid and valued part of a person’s experience can foster confidence, resilience, and self-acceptance.
The truth is, disability is a natural part of human diversity. Unlike other minority groups anyone can become a member at any time through accidents, illness, or aging. Therefore, disability is a part of the human condition. We deserve language that reflects that.
The way disability is discussed in everyday life, media, and healthcare settings directly impacts mental health. Being constantly described in limiting ways, whether through pitying language or outright exclusion, can lead to internalised ableism, anxiety, and depression.
We need to encourage change towards more inclusive practices so that professionals, educators, and society as a whole are more mindful of the words they use when talking about disability, as these words can shape attitudes, emotional responses, and even access to support.
Dr. Joanna Griffin and I invite you to be curious, to listen, and to learn. The words we use around disability don’t just shape societal attitudes, they shape the identities, experiences, and mental well-being of those living with disabilities. Language holds power, and even small changes can make a big difference.
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