Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Cripple” Edition

*All variations of the term are ableist and should be refrained from in everyday conversations.

Introduction To The Ableist Language Series:

The usage of hurtful and derogatory language is not the intention behind it, but at its core, it perpetuates Ableist language that is oppressive and reinforces inferiority in people with disabilities.

It is rarely questioned because it comes naturally, the tongue rolls it off. Without even realizing it, I guarantee you can use ableist language every single day.

Here on The Rolling Adventurer, I am going to begin questioning it.

As an advocate for disability rights, I became aware of how common ableist language was in my own vocabulary and how unaware and uneducated I was about the implications behind my choice of words. Of course, like many others, I was able to change my vocabulary and grow in popularity for phrases and words that are not ableist, as our society has allowed for.

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Every other week, I will be sharing a blog post that highlights one of the words from the downloadable glossary, providing alternative phrases and words as well as explanations and definitions.

Discover alternatives to using “its” as a starting point, and learn why this word is inherently ableist. Keep reading to understand why “cripple” is considered outdated in today’s language.

How is “Cripple” Ableist?

Initially, I will provide the definition, as per usual. The terms “defective” and “deficient” are employed in both the noun and adjective parts of the definition. The term “impair” with a lack of “completeness” is equivalent, and notably troublesome is the subsequent definition in the verb portion.

You can see that the word “creep” originates from the Old English words “creopere” and “crypel,” which mean to move with a limp. In the society we have created above, it becomes painfully obvious that the original definition of “cripple” is now replaced with the issue of someone who limps.

The present definition of disability in our society has allowed us to expand and influence the ways in which we use words, and it challenges the assumptions and biases of our community. It is important to note that the original definition was based on opinion rather than fact, which means it could have been very different. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the term “cripple” does not carry the same meaning as it did a thousand years ago.

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When it is specifically employed as a derogatory term, particularly by numerous individuals within the disability community, employing any variation of the term is deemed offensive. The term has now acquired highly unfavorable associations due to the development of various verb forms and the incorporation of belief.

You are succumbing to ableism, perpetuating negative beliefs surrounding disabilities held by people, by using the word “cripple.” In the long run, it is suggested to use alternative words instead.

Why People With Disabilities Can Use “Crip” As A Self-Identifier

You may be familiar with the hashtag “Crip The” when voting. You may also see it on Facebook. groups entitled “Crip Community” or when voting with the hashtag “Vote The Crip”. Many people with disabilities are actively seeking to reclaim the word as their own. It serves as a unifier and identifier. However, it is important to note that this word should never be used by someone who is not a part of the disabled community or referring to themselves. This is because the word “crip” has strong offensive undertones, as explained above.

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Alternative Words To Use Instead:

  • Disabled.
  • Injured.
  • Immobilize.
  • Incapacitate.
  • Debilitate.
  • Damage.
  • Hurt.
  • Alternative Sentences:

    Instead of: The impacts of Covid-19 have greatly devastated the economy.

    The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have greatly paralyzed the economy.

    Instead of: My friend injured herself in a skiing accident.

    My friend harmed herself in a skiing incident.

    Why Use Alternative Words and Phrases?

    It truly is that straightforward. The rationale you ought to seriously contemplate transitioning “disable” out of your day-to-day lexicon and substituting it with a few of the instances mentioned above is due to its ableist association.