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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-26 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - Don’t Call Me That!From:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Don’t Call Me That! Date:Monday, February 23, 2026 7:31:34 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Every paid subscription supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is nowhere near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Why I Stopped Using This Word (And Maybe You Should Too).mp4 Watch now Don’t Call Me That! The Hidden Harm in a Word We Think Is Kind READ IN APP There’s a word almost everyone uses when talking about disability. A word that sounds gentle, well‑intended, even flattering. A word that shows up in schools, care settings, IEP meetings, and everyday conversation. And most people have no idea how much damage it quietly causes. This week on the Growth Rings podcast, I break down why I stopped using this “nice” word — and why you might want to reconsider it, too. Language shapes culture. Language shapes expectations. Language shapes who we think the “problem” is the person, or the system. And in our disability community, some words end up doing exactly the opposite of what people think they do. They reinforce segregation. They keep barriers in place. They shift responsibility away from institutions and back onto the individual. In this episode, I talk about: FEB 23 Why This Matters How one word reframes disabled people as the “exception” Why schools often use this word instead of admitting their systems need to change How diets, mobility, communication, learning, and daily life get labeled with this word Why it’s not neutral and not a compliment What we should be saying instead How shifting our language shifts our culture and power I also share some stories from my own life, including working in nursing home kitchens and watching how this word operates in real time. I’m not here to shame anyone. I used this word myself for years. This video is about clarity, not judgment. It’s about understanding where our words come from… and whether they help dismantle systems or hold them in place. If we’re building a disability culture in Montana and beyond — one rooted in interdependence, freedom, and community power — then we have to talk honestly about the language that shapes the way society sees us. And I’m not asking you to memorize a list of “approved terms.” I’m asking you to think about what your words do — socially, politically, culturally — and whether they reflect the world we actually want to build. This Isn’t About Policing Language If You’ve Ever Said This Word, You’re NotAlone Because once you see the harm baked into this word… it’s hard to unsee. Watch the video and tell me in the comments: What disability‑related words make you cringe — and why? Let’s keep this conversation going. Let’s build the culture we deserve. — David Growth Rings Podcast Disability Rights Montana You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. Upgrading to paid subscriptions supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is no where near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe