There’s an old saying

One you may have chanted on the playground as a child.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

But words can cause confusion and offense to the disabled community as well as any marginalised groups.

Two recent examples in the media illustrate this.

 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/rosebuchanan/people-love-that-a-news-site-changed-its-ableist-headline?utm_term=.cuJwYyzyK1#.jgQW6VzVed

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/356448/mayor-s-words-wound-after-insulting-put-down