Blogs >> Miscellaneous >>
TAKING 'DIFFERENTLY ABLED' TO THE MAIN STREAM
‘Differently able’ is a term of American origin which is synonymous with disability, deformity, deficiency or malformation of one’s physical features. This phrase was coined with reference to American soldiers injured while engaged in the war service.
Disability has been defined variously. The sum total of all these scientific, technical and legal definitions simply refers to the inability of a person to lead a normal active life on account of his physical or mental impairment.
Why was it necessary to introduce a new terminology into the language when the synonyms mentioned are quite sufficient to impart the same meaning? It was believed that the terms disability, deformity and malformation are associated with some sort of negative meaning and have the tendency to downgrade the usefulness of an individual affected with such deficiency.
This article is not written with particular reference to American soldiers who were injured at the battle front, but in a general sense in relation to all bodily and mentally incapacitated persons who represent a substantial percentage in any society.
Broadly speaking, disability or deficiency falls into two classes, physical and mental. Physical disability covers a lot of ground. This definition covers anything and everything from a dislocation of a limb to a complete loss of a physical part, including blindness, deafness and absence of rational thinking.
As the words ‘disability or inability or deficiency’ used to describe a person who has some kind of physical or mental shortcoming, has the tendency of ranking him or her as an inferior being, no such person would like this phraseology employed to speak of him. It not only undermines his self-confidence and self-respect but also has an element of disdain. Therefore in referring to them it is better to avoid these words. The terminology ‘differently able’ is a far better substitute.
Disability has been defined variously. The sum total of all these scientific, technical and legal definitions simply refers to the inability of a person to lead a normal active life on account of his physical or mental impairment.
Why was it necessary to introduce a new terminology into the language when the synonyms mentioned are quite sufficient to impart the same meaning? It was believed that the terms disability, deformity and malformation are associated with some sort of negative meaning and have the tendency to downgrade the usefulness of an individual affected with such deficiency.
This article is not written with particular reference to American soldiers who were injured at the battle front, but in a general sense in relation to all bodily and mentally incapacitated persons who represent a substantial percentage in any society.
Broadly speaking, disability or deficiency falls into two classes, physical and mental. Physical disability covers a lot of ground. This definition covers anything and everything from a dislocation of a limb to a complete loss of a physical part, including blindness, deafness and absence of rational thinking.
As the words ‘disability or inability or deficiency’ used to describe a person who has some kind of physical or mental shortcoming, has the tendency of ranking him or her as an inferior being, no such person would like this phraseology employed to speak of him. It not only undermines his self-confidence and self-respect but also has an element of disdain. Therefore in referring to them it is better to avoid these words. The terminology ‘differently able’ is a far better substitute.
|
|
