Q&A for How to Write About Disability

It is definitely controversial and potentially offensive. Some writers use it, but others say it should be avoided, since it's easy to see the capitalization as a "cutesy" rendition that's similar to "handicapable" or "differently abled".

The same guidelines apply to people who have "invisible" disabilities, or disabilities that aren't easy for passersby to notice. This guide is written with both visible and "invisible" disabilities in mind.

This depends on what the work is and what the person's abilities are. Some people can do it all themselves, some need support on learning it and are fine then, some will always need help doing it, and some people can't do it at all. It greatly depends. Ask the disabled person what they think they can manage, and what type of support they might need. Often, it involves the help of a disability expert. Let the individual and their team (if there is one) figure it out, and don't push too hard. Sometimes people truly can't do things, or it would be dangerous to try, or it would take too much energy that they need for other things.

It's possible they grew up around the term and/or don't realize the potentially offensive connotations around it. You could tell them something along the lines of: "I believe you should stop using the term 'special needs' and instead start using the terms 'has a disability' or 'disabled', as many people find that term offensive." If that's not working, you can also include reasons people find the term offensive (e.g. "The term suggests that people with disabilities have needs that are non-essential").

I'm actually writing a story ("Thousand Dollar Friend") with a main character who doesn't know much about disability. In terms of terminology, I usually take the "lucky guess" route, where the main character (MC) uses the right words. I also show her learning new things, and learning that the stereotypes she had heard were wrong. It's also okay to show your main character asking questions to another character, or on a search engine, to learn more. A respectful attitude is what counts most, so if you show your character to be a person who isn't fully educated but treats the disabled characters with kindness and dignity, that's what is most important.

The spoon theory describes how disabled people need to budget energy throughout the day. Imagine having only a set amount of "spoons" when you wake up. Any activity (showering, making food, getting dressed) costs spoons. Once you have zero spoons, you're done. While non-disabled people have so many spoons that these activities aren't a big deal, for a disabled person, they take a lot of energy. A disabled person has to make difficult choices about what is worth getting done. On some days, you have more than on others. Christine Miserandino has an [http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/] essay on her invention of the term.

That's clever! You'll probably need to explain it to people in order for them to understand, but it might elicit some smiles and laughs.

Identity-first language (amputee) seems to be more common than person-first language (person with an amputation). I could not find much of an amputee community online, but from what I did find, identity-first language is the norm. Thus, it's probably reasonable to either use a mix of person-first and identity-first language, or use identity-first language unless the specific person prefers otherwise.

Under most circumstances, using the words "suffers from" can give a negative connotation. Thus, it would be preferable to just state the fact that an individual has a mental illness. If you are writing or talking about an individual, it could be very helpful to describe how this illness effects them. A lot of what you want to say or write will depend on your purpose of sharing information about this individual.

Consider doing plenty of research. This will help you to understand better.

Just explain to people that you prefer another term, and give them your reasons. I'm not a fan of the phrase special needs either, partly because the word 'special' has been negatively talked about over the years. Help them to understand that just because some people, or even the majority, are okay with a word doesn't mean you have to be.

The word "autist" can be considered offensive. Some autistic people prefer to reclaim it for describing themselves, but similar to the word "queer", it can be considered offensive when being used to describe others, unless they say otherwise. A better term might be "autistic person", or "on the autistic spectrum". Some people also use the words "aspie" or "autie" to describe themselves, though some people argue that they are too cutesy, and may come across as patronising.

Inspiration porn is when people talk about disabled people as if they are an inspiration for living their typical life. Although, in hindsight, it can seem like a nice thing, it usually implies one of the following: that disabled people are superhuman, or you should pity disabled people, or that it is out of the ordinary for disabled people to be good at things. For example, making it seem as if it is amazing and abnormal thing that an autistic person gets a job. People who use this approach usually send out the message "if a disabled person can do this, why can't you?", implying that disabled people are, by default, less successful than non-disabled people.

Look up symptoms of autism. Autistic people often have trouble understanding non-verbal things like facial expressions. They can also take things literally and having hard time understanding jokes or sarcasm.They are often sensitive to loud noises or bright lights. Symptoms like these, plus special interest, will reveal her autism to the reader. But saying that she is autistic isn't a bad thing - you have to show she has autistic traits for it to be convincing.

Since this is specifically a vampire, maybe you could think about how a vampire would adapt to paralysis - rather than walking, they could occasionally fly, for example. With that being said, avoid making such a thing appear to completely make up for the disability (for instance, maybe flying is difficult for any number of reasons), or having the disability be completely cured (even in a fantasy setting where something such as magic could be used). WikiHow has an article called "How to Write a Disabled Character", which you may find interesting to read for more information.

Progeria is a rare physical disorder that gives the person a strange appearance, such as looking like an alien. People with progeria have short lifespans, usually no longer than 19 years. If you'd like to learn more, watch videos on people who have this disorder, like Adalia Rose.

Yes, epilepsy is considered a disability as people with the condition are usually quite affected by it in their everyday life.

Disability is a spectrum, and everybody on it has different capabilities, strengths, and support needs. For example, a person with epilepsy may not be able to watch certain movies (because flashing lights trigger their seizures), while a deaf person may be able to watch those movies as long as the subtitles are turned on. Someone paralyzed from the waist down will typically need a wheelchair to get around, and they may be good at reading, while someone with dyslexia may be able to walk and need help with reading.