Labels are convenient
On the other hand, labels can be convenient. Sure, they reduce the things they describe, but with the amount of information being thrown at us every day, we need a few categories to simplify our surroundings. It takes too much time to wonder if a person does not like this word or the other. I can’t be expected to understand the preferences of every single person I meet, can I? And really, does it matter?

It matters
It matters when you are at the receiving end of those words. It matters when the meanings turn into insults. It matters when your capabilities and competence are summed up in a word that does not reflect you. It matters when you stop being human (a person with a disability) and become a “something” (disabled).

Language is a funny thing
Language helps us express ourselves, but it also limits how we express ourselves and how much of ourselves we can express. We treat every word and its meaning as if it is solid and unchangeable. But we bring the meaning to language, not the other way around. And sometimes, we have to stop and think about what we are saying—and how we are saying it.