disabled
Put out of commission
Disabled describes someone with a physical, mental, or sensory condition that limits major activities—movement, sight, hearing, cognition.
The word functions as both adjective and collective noun: services for the disabled, a disabled veteran.
A disabled vehicle or machine is one that has been rendered inoperable.
Some prefer "person with a disability" to emphasize the person before the condition, though many in disability communities embrace disabled as a neutral descriptor rather than a euphemism to avoid.
Shelter or housing provided
- modificationAct of altering something
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- wheelchairSeated conveyance for mobility-impaired
- rampSloped connecting surface
elevator · sign-language · captioning · screen-reader · assistive · adaptive · handrail · prosthetic
Justified claims to freedoms
- inclusionBeing made part
- equalitySame status for all
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
independence · self-advocacy · dignity · agency · participation · representation · activism · ADA
Lack of ability
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- amputationSurgical limb removal
- blindnessAbsence of vision
- deafnessLack of auditory function
mobility · chronic · congenital · acquired · invisible · physical · cognitive · sensory
Not currently functioning
- deactivatedRendered inoperative
- nonfunctionalNot performing its purpose
- inoperativeNot able to function
- offlineNot internet-connected
unplugged · disconnected · broken · malfunctioning · out-of-service · unresponsive · frozen · crashed
Cannot be reached
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
limitation · restriction · unemployment · poverty · isolation · marginalization · prejudice · misconception
Bias against disabled individuals
- eugenicsControlled human reproduction theory
- dehumanizationDenying personhood to others
- pitySympathy for misfortune
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
microaggression · stereotype · slur · institutionalization · guardianship · paternalism · erasure · gatekeeping
accommodation
Shelter or housing provided
- modificationAct of altering something
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- wheelchairSeated conveyance for mobility-impaired
ramp · elevator · sign-language · captioning · screen-reader · assistive · adaptive · handrail · prosthetic · interpreter
rights
Justified claims to freedoms
- inclusionBeing made part
- equalitySame status for all
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
autonomy · independence · self-advocacy · dignity · agency · participation · representation · activism · ADA · legislation
incapacity
Lack of ability
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- amputationSurgical limb removal
- blindnessAbsence of vision
deafness · mobility · chronic · congenital · acquired · invisible · physical · cognitive · sensory · developmental
inactive
Not currently functioning
- deactivatedRendered inoperative
- nonfunctionalNot performing its purpose
- inoperativeNot able to function
offline · unplugged · disconnected · broken · malfunctioning · out-of-service · unresponsive · frozen · crashed · defunct
inaccessible
Cannot be reached
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- stigmaMark of dishonor
obstacle · limitation · restriction · unemployment · poverty · isolation · marginalization · prejudice · misconception · attitudinal
ableism
Bias against disabled individuals
- eugenicsControlled human reproduction theory
- dehumanizationDenying personhood to others
- pitySympathy for misfortune
othering · microaggression · stereotype · slur · institutionalization · guardianship · paternalism · erasure · gatekeeping
- brokenbroken, busted, broken down, out of order, not working
- statusespending, active, approved, inactive, completed
- incapacitatedunconscious, knocked out, out cold, passed out, comatose
- access statusauthorized, unauthorized, granted, denied, allowed
- connection statusconnected, disconnected, online, offline, connecting
- Disabilitiesblind, paralysis, vision loss, amputees, paralyzed
disabledable-bodied
Physically fit, healthy
nondisabled · abled · unimpaired · able · healthy
disabledenabled
Made something possible
activated · active · functioning · operational · turned on
- physically disabledHaving bodily functional limitations
- disabled veteransFormer troops with lasting impairments
- disabled peopleThose with functional impairments
- disabled parking
- disabled listRoster of sidelined athletes
- disabled accessAccommodations for mobility impairments
disable, disabling, disables, disablement, nondisabled, disabled list