The Squeaky Wheel is imploring the disabled public to stop using the following phrases to label or describe non-disabled people. These stigmatizing terms are disturbingly common, but they have no place in the equitable world we are all building together.
Eyeballs
Blind people should instead use the impacted community’s preferred phrases, “high vision individuals” or “the visually unimpaired.”
“All the eyeballs were so helpless when the lights went out”
Street Feet
A derogatory term implying that people who ambulate (often referred to as “Bipeds”) have dirtier feet from walking on unclean surfaces.
“Sure she was sweet, but I can’t be seen in public dating some street feet”
Munchers
People who don’t have food allergies or sensitivities, and eat with total impunity.
“There I was with another plate of melon while the munchers ordered dairy desserts after a dairy-based side dish.”
Ents
Comparing anyone to a fantastical creature can feel painfully otherizing, so those of average height are not being overly sensitive when little people use this word.
“Imagine having to live with a bunch of ents? In these small apartments?”
Walkers
Ambulatory Americans are often deeply hurt when we refer to them by the name for zombies on The Walking Dead.
“The place was a nightmare, literally wall to wall walkers.”
Boring
The politically correct term is “mentally stable.”
“After my ex always did the chores in an orderly, lifeless fashion and went to bed at reasonable times, I would be really hesitant to date another boring.”
Ass-Wipers
Why is it a bad thing to be able to wipe your own ass? Or, in some cases, to help with wiping disabled asses?
“And then this ass-wiper looks at ME funny because I DON’T wipe my own ass”
Differently-paralympic
Please just call them “Olympians.”
“Be sure to tune-in before the Paralympics to watch differently-paralympic athletes pretend sports are still hard even when they conform precisely to your body type.”
Walkie Talkie Desk Jockey
A person who can walk, talk, and work. This insult is particularly divisive because it rhymes, which makes anyone who says it sound cool.
“Look at that walkie talkie desk jockey with his stapler and slightly worn Converse.”
Served Dog
This term for a non-service dog often offends abled dog owners. The dogs themselves don’t really care.
“I can’t believe this restaurant allows served dogs.”
ATVs
People who can traverse off-road conditions and seem to make a point of doing so.
“I’m skipping the weekend trip because they’re a bunch of ATVs with too many spoons.”
Fourleggers
A term amputees often use for people with two arms and two legs (popular variants include Daddy Long Legs, Cricket Boy, Starfish, and Half-Squidward).
“The fourleggers would not stop complaining about the airplane seats.”
Somatypicals
People with common, average, already researched, scientifically recognized, and, therefore, very dull bodies.
“HR doesn’t get it, they’re all somatypicals.”
OMGWTFASL
Used to describe a hearing person talking with their hands.
“I thought for a second he was talking to me, but it was just OMGWTFASL.”
Dave
A man whose complaining demonstrates he has no idea how few obstacles he faces compared to disabled people. Derived from “Karen.”
“Listen, Dave: I am recording you parking in that spot, and my followers will dox you!”