Change of perspective on disability

The term "disabled" is now considered stigmatizing because it reduces an individual to his or her illness or disability without taking into account the situation and context, or the capacities and resources of the person. The term "disabled" is always used, provided it is associated with a specific action or situation. Disability therefore refers to a situation, which is why we call it a disability situation. We will now speak of disability to talk about the alteration or damage of one or more functions of the body, whether temporary or permanent (what was called before "disability"). Disability leads to disability (the inability to do something), which in turn will lead to a disability situation in a specific context. It is therefore essential to be inclusive with people with disabilities. 

Two essential means are compensation and inclusive behaviour. Compensations are the adaptations of society to people with disabilities. They limit the disadvantage(s) caused by their disability(ies) in a given situation. These compensations make it possible to make people with disabilities more autonomous by meeting their specific needs, and thus to better include them in society. Inclusive behaviours are the attitudes and actions that enable people with disabilities to feel included in society. These behaviours will promote the autonomy of people with disabilities: it is often better to "help to do" rather than "do instead". In general, inclusive behaviour also means adapting to the person's needs.