The Abled Movement

Why The Name?

 

Using "politically correct" terminology around families affected by special needs can get dicy.  What is acceptable?  What will offend?  Let's be real, there are not any attractive or encouraging titles that can be used.  I can't speak for everyone, but as a general rule I can say that words such as "special needs" and "challenged" are generally safe, and won't offend people.  

 

For me personally, I have never been easily offended by words or titles when used with good intent.  I get it - when you don't live in our world, it's tough to know what you should and shouldn't say and ask during conversation.  So here's a word that is often used with harmless intent - DISABILITY.  That is, for all intent and purpose, a safe word.  In context, this word can be used as DISABLED.  This is the origin of our name.

 

One day my son was attempting to guess the password on my iPhone.  If you've ever done this before, you know that after a certain number of wrong attempts, and IPhone will disable for a period of time.  I picked up my phone to read the large text stating "IPhone is disabled."  It struck me that this meant my phone could not function.  It wouldn't work.  It had no use to me.  I immediately got a sick feeling when I realized that this is a word that has been used to describe my daughter Mabry.  And thus......."THE ABLED MOVEMENT"

 

I realized that by definition, disabled is a proper term to describe Mabry.  

**dis-a-bled:  having a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities.**

 Yep!  That's correct.  But, nevertheless, it sure didn't feel good to relate a device that could not function to my daughter.

 

All special needs citizens, including Mabry, have plenty of ordinary abilities.  In fact, they have many extraordinary abilities.  Some you can see, and some that you can't.  Those of you that have a relationship with someone with special needs will likely agree with me that they are capable of some great that you are not.  And, they are counting on you to help them develop their gifts and bring out the best in them.

 

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