A guide to the terminology to be used for Tokyo Paralympics: Words, phrases to note

As the buzz builds around para athletes and their achievements, there are a few key things to keep in mind while discussing them. Blame it on the social conditioning, especially in India, if you will, para athletes or even, people with impairments - be it physical or intellectual, are not seen in the same light as able-bodied people. Almost always there is a tone of either extra wary, utter condescension, outright insensitivity and sadly, a pitiful approach while interacting or even, discussing impaired individuals. Most people do not intend to make the distinction but in their efforts to sound politically correct, they end up going wrong and come off sounding disrespectful and patronizing.

While the greater battle to be won is one that revolves around changing the mindset and the perception, the first step towards achieving this would be to erase the conception of viewing para athletes as 'disabled' and 'challenged' and language is the primary tool to enforce this change.

Before we fully immerse ourselves in the craze of the Tokyo Paralympics, a sensitization is important - our vocabulary has to be more liberating instead of portraying para athletes in a degrading, stereotypical way that robs them of their very individuality.

The need for a more inclusive approach towards 'disabled' individuals

Further, if we are to assess the Social Model of Disability, we come to see that an individual is seen as disabled by the society at large owing to the various normative societal attitudes, cultures and limitations that restrict the scope of an impaired individual. In all honesty, the disability of an individual should not be, at any cost, taken as the definitive aspect of the person - in doing so, we fail to highlight the person or a para athlete, in this case.

Romanticising, pitying, over-selling disability and making a para athlete appear superhuman for their achievements, is problematic. As a rule of thumb, we need to look at the person first - who they are, and not what their disability is and least of all, make that disability appear like a crippling factor for them and showcase them as disadvantaged. This kind of a mental divide needs to be eradicated - if not the same, at least a closely similar lens needs to be adopted in viewing both able-bodied and para athletes and making the world more inclusive for them.

The power of language and the need for a sensitive vocabulary

Language and diction go a long way in bringing change. How we talk, interact, engage with para athletes matter most. We should, by no means, assume things dictated by age-old stereotypes about the para athletes simply because they are impaired. If we do so, we end up discounting a major aspect of their personality itself. We should respect the space of the athlete, treat them as we would treat any other able-bodied athlete - there isn't a prying need to harp on disability and make it seem like the defining aspect of the athlete.

Here are a few guidelines/words to keep in mind while discussing para athletes: