I don't feel that I can describe the... pride of being unique to people who haven't felt it. It feels so natural that of course a non-disabled person would want to maximize their fitness and freedom and essentially not have the same concerns and certainly not have a community over an innate quality of themselves.

Asking people to remove these phrases is asking them to be mindful of their communication, asking them to be considerate and empathetic. And it's so easy to slip back in, I was raised on these phrases.

But I will tell you the journey is rewarding. It's opened me up to friendship with people who would write me off if I did use this language, people who wouldn't share their perspective on life if I hadn't put the effort in. That discomfort with talking to disabled people that I felt as a teen? That's gone. I see mentally and physically disabled people as human, with all the same ability to show me or teach me something as anyone else. It feels great, like a weight off of my shoulders.