Types of Ableist Language and What to Say Instead
www.verywellmind.com
Unknowingly, most of us say many ableist things regularly. Here's a guide to help you be aware of those words and what you can say instead.

We already do this with some slurs, right? We can start enforcing these words, too.

Not calling anyone out, I’ve been guilty of it too. And we don’t have to do it all at once. Like, we can start with these:

Ableist words and alternatives.

Stupid, R€tarded, Idiot(ic), Cretin, or Moron(ic): People say this to imply something, or someone isn’t intelligent or worth their time, but the words refer to people with intellectual disabilities. Instead, say that a situation or person is frustrating, ignorant, dense, unpleasant, cheesy, or awful.

Dumb: This word refers to a person who doesn’t speak verbally, but people often use it to mean that something or someone isn’t intelligent or wise. It’s listed separately from stupid and its synonyms because it references a physical disability instead of an intellectual one. Try using any of the non-ableist synonyms like irritating or uncool.

Crazy, Nuts, Mad, Psycho, or Insane: “Wow, that’s crazy!” may not seem like a harmful statement, but if you think about someone with a mental health condition hearing that statement, it’s easy to realize that it is. So instead of using one of those words, try outrageous, bananas, bizarre, amazing, intense, extreme, overwhelming, or wild.

  • FuckYourselfEndless [ze/hir]@hexbear.netEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Obsessed: We’re listing this separately from OCD because it’s used differently and is one of the only ableist words meant as a compliment. People say “I’m so obsessed with X” to imply they like it, but it’s ableist because it makes a joke about OCD. If you love something, you can say that you’re enamored, absorbed, enchanted, charmed, or delighted by it.

    This is just nothing. Doesn’t actually present a harm done. Doesn’t really solve the problem they made up.