The harmful ableist language you unknowingly use

The harmful ableist language you unknowingly use Alamy Some of our most common, ingrained expressions have damaging effects on millions of people – and many of us don't know we're hurting others when we speak. Frequently, ableist language crops up in the slang we use, like calling something “dumb” or “lame”, or making a declaration like, “I’m so OCD!”. Ableist language crops up in the slang we use, like calling something “dumb” or “lame”, or making a declaration like, “I’m so OCD!” Hale adds that using disability as a shorthand for something negative or inferior reinforces negative attitudes and actions, and fuels the larger systems of oppression in place. “The ableist language they used has created an oppressive environment.” Alamy One of the most effective ways to move away from ableist language is understanding the disabled community, having conversations and listening to their concerns Timm notes this ‘environment’ includes an impact on their own self-worth. Often avoiding ableist euphemisms just means choosing more straightforward and literal language – rather than “fall on deaf ears”, one might say “ignoring” or “choosing not to engage”.