July is Disability Pride Month—a time to celebrate, uplift, and amplify the voices, identities, and experiences of disabled individuals around the world. I have always believed in the power of words. They help us understand the world—and each other—a little better And the words we choose to address others matter even more. For the words we use shape our perceptions, our surroundings, and our possibilities. Words carry histories, pride, pain, and power. That’s why, today, I’m sharing a collection of powerful words that help us speak (and think) in more inclusive, thoughtful ways.

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💚 Words That Empower, Include, and Awaken

🟩 Identity & Empowerment

🟥 Disability Pride

I love how the term Disability Pride flips the usual script. Instead of seeing disability as a “problem,” it’s about owning and celebrating it—kind of like saying, “Hey, this is who I am, and I’m proud of it.” It’s a movement that says you don’t have to fit anyone else’s idea of ‘normal’ to be awesome.

🗨️ “Disability doesn’t make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does.” – Stella Young

🟥 Neurodivergent

This word really changed how I think about brains. Neurodivergent isn’t about something being wrong; it’s about brains doing their own unique thing. The term covers brains that work differently—autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. It’s not about being wrong or broken; it’s about having a brain that’s wired its own wonderful way. Different ≠ deficient.

🗨️ “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” –  Audre Lorde

🟥 Disability Justice

This term really deepened how I think about inclusion. Disability Justice goes beyond just making things accessible—it’s about centering the lives and voices of disabled people who are also impacted by racism, poverty, gender inequality, and more. It’s about asking: Who gets left out, even when we think we’re including everyone?

“A Disability Justice framework understands that all bodies are unique and essential, that all bodies have strengths and needs that must be met.” — Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

🟦 Inclusion & Access

🟥 Accessibility

About 20+ years ago, I used to think accessibility just meant wheelchair ramps, captions, and internet accessibility. The last one came from when I started doing 508 accessibility testing for software applications in addition to functionality. But it’s not just these things—though those are super important—but all the little ways we can make life easier and friendlier for everyone, no matter how they experience the world. When something is accessible, it says, “You belong here too.”

🗨️ “Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential.” – Debra Ruh

🟥 Universal Design

Being in the mood to go watch Fantastic Four or Superman, I can’t help but think that while Universal Design might not wear a cape, it’s still kind of heroic. Why? Because it includes everyone from the start—no retrofitting or special fixes required.

Universal Design means planning spaces, tools, and learning environments so that everyone can use them, right out of the gate. It’s like curb cuts: originally designed for wheelchair access, but also helpful for strollers, suitcases, or even tired feet. That’s the power of designing with inclusion in mind—it benefits everyone.

🗨️ “When we design for disability first, you often stumble upon solutions that are better than those when you design for the norm.” – Elise Roy

🟥 Accommodations

We all need support sometimes, right? Accommodations are adjustments—like extra time on a test or a sign language interpreter—that level the playing field. They’re not about giving someone an unfair advantage. They’re about giving everyone a fair chance.

🗨️ “Fairness doesn’t mean everyone gets the same. It means everyone gets what they need.” – Rick Riordan

🟨 Awareness & Allyship

🟥 Ableism

This one made me stop and think the first time I heard it. My first reaction? I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Ableism is the set of beliefs and actions that assume able-bodied, neurotypical people are the default. Sometimes it’s obvious—like buildings with no ramps. Other times, it’s subtle—like calling someone “brave” just for living their everyday life. I’ve always tried to avoid assuming people can’t do things—but I’ve definitely been caught off guard when someone couldn’t do something I thought was a given. That, too, is a form of bias. Assumptions—even quiet, well-meaning ones—can be limiting. And unlearning them takes intention.

🗨️ “The world wasn’t built with people with disabilities in mind, and because of that, the world we live in is inherently “ableist.” – Ashley Eisenmenger

🟥 Nothing About Us, Without Us

This is kind of the motto for Disability Pride, and it is a rallying cry that says: disabled people should be part of any conversation or decision that affects them. Period. It’s about dignity, representation, and the basic idea that people should have a say in their own lives.

🗨️ “Inclusion isn’t about being invited to sit at someone else’s table, it’s about building a new table together, where each person’s voice and presence matter equally.” – Russell Lehmann

🟥 Interdependence

John Donne knew what he was talking about when he said, ‘No man is an island,’ about four centuries ago! Which brings us to the word interdependence. Rather than chasing independence as the ultimate goal—which is often expected of disabled people in ways that ignore systemic barriers—interdependence recognizes that all of us rely on one another in different ways. Support isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a reflection of our shared humanity and diverse needs. It does take a village—and that’s not a flaw in the system; that is the system, when it’s working well.

🗨️ “I am because we are.” – African proverb (Ubuntu philosophy)

📌 Why These Words Matter

The more thoughtful our words, the more inclusive our world can be. When we know better words, we can build better worlds. So these words above aren’t just definitions—they’re starting points. Tiny bridges to empathy, connection, and change. They help us pause before assuming, to make room for lived experience, and celebrate the richness of every identity and all cultures.

If one word stood out to you, hold on to it. If one word was new, look deeper into it. And if one word felt unfamiliar or uncomfortable—sit with it. Ask questions. That’s where learning begins.

Related Reads

Of course, I had to bring you books. Each of these powerful books explore disability in ways that affirm, inform, and invite deeper reflection—for readers young and old. I have read some of them, and the others are on my TBR, for I know I need to keep informed, read more, and learn more.

• Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement by Ashley Shew (Social Technology)
• All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali (Children’s Nonfiction | 5–10 years)
• The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World by Tiffany Yu (Social Activist Biographies)
• Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner (Memoir)
• Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Children’s Fiction | 4–8 years)
• Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau (Disability Studies)
• Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong(YA/Adult Nonfiction | 13+)
• El Deafo by Cece Bell (Graphic Memoir | 8–12 years and up)
• Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body by Rebekah Taussig (Disability Studies/Memoirs) 

For more books (including a couple from the list above), check out my list at 11+ Powerful Children’s Books About Disabilities

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, this list is just a starting point—there’s always more to learn. If a word here made you pause, smile, or rethink something, that’s a great place to begin. And if you have a favorite word or book that you would add to this list, or changed the way you think, I’d love to hear it! Let’s keep learning together, one word at a time. As always, share your thoughts in the comments and share this post to keep the dialogue going.