Language should be an enabler

It’s not people’s disability which holds individuals back, but often the wide range of behaviours and attitudes from others that does the job.

Sometimes it’s because of ill-informed assumptions and lack of awareness about people’s potential, sometimes it’s outright prejudice.

Our Possibility with Disability campaign began last year, recognising the passive and active barriers disabled people face.

This week, we launched the latest phase, highlighting the role language can play in promoting inclusion. Language clearly matters to disabled people. Of more than 1,000 disabled people surveyed, around three quarters said more needs to be done for non-disabled people to understand that their words cause offence.

And more than 1 in 5 (23%) disabled people experienced overtly defamatory language aimed at them from non-disabled strangers in a public place. This should shock anyone.

It seems clear given this that more education and greater awareness is needed about the role language plays in creating a more inclusive society. Leonard Cheshire does its bit by working with companies, governments, a wide range of disability organisations and schools to promote inclusive environments both in the UK and overseas.

The campaign resonated with many disabled people and was important to them.

Our research was brought to life by the brilliant rapper, Kray- Z Legz. We were both part of a news package on ITV News earlier in the week. He was also featured in a great piece on Channel 5 News. It’s been an utter joy to work with Mark and the collaboration with him has been amazing. Well worth checking out his story in the Metro too. Sadly, some media missed the point, misreporting what we were doing.  

It’s striking looking at some responses to the launch that non-disabled people have such strong views about the language around disability, rather than thinking more about what disabled people may actually want.

Mark’s rap says it all really, “just talk”. It’s about conversation and having the respect to sensitively ask disabled people about what they may prefer when talking about their disability. Individuals may have different views and that’s the point. Language shouldn’t be a barrier.

It should be an enabler.

Have a brilliant long Bank Holiday weekend everyone.