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Regardless of the origin of “handicapped,” I find …

Comment posted on Handicap (is it a bad word?) by wheelz

Regardless of the origin of “handicapped,” I find the word offensive when used to describe people with disabilities.

The term–like “disabled”–is subjective. One of the definitions of the term “handicapped” is “disadvantaged.” As a person with a disability, whether or not I view my “handicap” as a disadvantage depends on my point of view. That is also true if people without disabilities view others’ “handicaps” as disadvantages.

The same can be said for “disabled,” as well as “confined to” a wheelchair or “wheelchair bound.” The fact that I have a disability (not a bad word), doesn’t automatically render me “disabled.” And I use a wheelchair, but don’t consider myself “bound” or “confined” by it.

Tags: Handicap