differently abled
adjective
mainlyUS(alsodifferently-abled)uk/ˌdɪf.ər.ənt.li ˈeɪ.bəld/us/ˌdɪf.ɚ.ənt.li ˈeɪ.bəld/apoliteway todescribesomeone who has adisability(= anillness,injury, orconditionthat makes itdifficultfor them to do some things that otherpeopledo), which somepeopledislikebecause itignorestheparticulardifficultiesdisabledpeoplehave insociety:
The sameopportunitiesmust beprovidedto differently-abledemployeesas to therestof theworkforce.
Hedislikestheterm"differentlyabled" andinsists, "I amlearningdisabled."
Compare
abled
- Disabilityactivistssay thattermslike “differentlyabled”attempttoglossover thedisabledperson’sdailystruggles, which arecausedby an ableistsocietythatdiscriminatesagainst them.
- She isstudyingtheeffectonparentsof having adifferentlyabledchild.
- Themuseumsareintroducingschemestoinvolvedifferently-abledvisitors.