Aibu to wish Americans didn't use the word handicaped

[Theblackdogagain]

I'm British living in Britain. My son is a wheelchair user and I'm sensitive about the language used around it. I'm listening to a brand new American audio book and they use the word handicapped. I know its still used there but it grates on me. AIBU even though I'm not American or living in USA?

I'm actually surprised "differently abled" is being pushed. The word "different" seems to trigger so many people. Non inclusive, you see...
I'm not sure how inclusive you can actually be when talking about difference, it seems a bit of an oxymoron.

Differently abled imo is ableist nonsense just ridiculous!

Let's change the word "poverty" to "materially challenged circumstances". That way we can carry on as we were without actually having to do anything.

That'll be £10 million in consultancy fees, Mr. Hunt.

Perhaps it is used amongst your acquaintances but certainly not in American society at large.

@BlueKaftan @Oneearringlost @Trifecta

It is used on medical paperwork. I’m not going to upload it here but when DC were born (east coast), ‘mental retardation’ was a tick box for family illnesses/hereditary issues. Recent times, we were obviously appalled.

What term do you think should be used instead?

There are plenty of words in any country that would offend someone from a different society.
So accept that - you can't police the world.

Years ago a young woman told me she didn’t like the term handicapped to be used to describe her as it implies it’s something you can overcome.

Does it? 😵‍💫. I don't think so.

I am not disabled so I can’t relate how you would feel when your son is described as handicapped, disabled, “differently Abled” etc. however the words don’t change his condition. They might feel less offensive but they don’t make him less disabled. As a previous poster has said people know what words mean and even if different words are superimposed everybody knows what “differently abled” means.

I mean this gently but there objectively IS something wrong with your son. It doesn’t lessen his value as a human but objectively he can’t walk so he isn’t the same as most people. Saying that he is the same as everyone else and the world is wrong for not having ramps everywhere doesn’t make sense- you clearly acknowledge that he needs help that most people don’t. It must be frustrating to be dealt a hand in life that makes it harder for you and him but he will need to accept his differences in order to move forward in life and make the most of it, not dwelling on the offensive language everywhere.

No, we don’t. Maybe some people do (just as some people in the UK probably do because they are ignorant), but it’s not used in regular speech.

There Is nothing "wrong" with the op son he has a medical condition Jesus wept!

Personally I don't give two shits about the language. I do care about dropped kerbs, accessible buildings and transport, decent toilet provision. A level of facilities and services that enable less able people to participate as fully as possible in every aspect of modern society. And that is what needs to be fought for. If you piss around changing words, that's all that will change. Then you'll just have a less abled person unable to get a bus rather than a handicapped person unable to get a bus.

Absolutely this.

Well, we're back to the different thing again. He is different. Not lesser, but definitely different.

A friend recently had their copy of "Lifestyle" the magazine for Motability customers delivered.

Celebrating 50 years of the scheme, it had a picture of the old 3-wheel invalid carriage. That had a very different nickname in the 70s.

However, weirdly I can remember a group of lads - all of whom would use that nickname - piling in to give an old guy who live near the school a push.

I can't help but feel today, with their impeccable language credentials, they'd stand by and do fuck all.

Has a medical condition !

Yes?

YABU

Entires countries cannot change their languages just for the UK! The same way it’s ridiculous if people in the US get upset that we says ‘gags’ for cigarettes

For some reason - completely inappropriate I am sure I will be told - I heard a punchline.

"Look, Spiggott , it's not that I have anything against your left leg. But the problem is neither do you"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Leg_Too_Few

I hate the word “handicapped” glad it’s been binned in the UK. I’m off on a cruise with an American cruise line, and the word “handicapped” is used, and I find it very jarring.

I also don’t like “we are all a bit on the Spectrum” and “Autism is a superpower” … my DD has (fully diagnosed) ASD, and it’s not a fucking superpower ..

The same way it’s ridiculous if people in the US get upset that we says ‘gags’ for cigarettes

Do we?

There are low laugh cigarettes I guess.

Because they call a spade a spade, and politically correct language doesn't exist and they can't see a problem with it. Mostly because they don't attach value to these words. There should be space for everyone in society, so being handicapped or disabled doesn't stop that. Same goes for people of colour. They usually get referred to as the slightly less offensive n word. I am trying to change that but I am one foreign woman in 5.6 million, so I've got my work cut out.

Bloody autocorrect
I meant fags

This is what I’ve been told too. Hand in cap (cap in hand).