So I accidentally started a debate in my last diary without meaning to. See, I'm disabled and in a wheelchair and I long ago stopped caring about what terms people use to describe me (maybe my username on here gave that away?) and, without thinking, used the term wheelchair bound in my post title to describe the heroine of my newest writing endeavour who has the same birth defect I do and is in a wheelchair. I thought I would take a moment to go into detail and explain my position on the whole thing, since I inadvertently brought it up.
The whole purpose of the previous diary was twofold: first, to talk about how I found writing my first actual disabled character - something I'd avoided until now - to actually be quite freeing as a writer. The second, to be completely honest, was to pimp my story and get people to read it and give me feedback. It was fairly successful on both levels.
What I didn't intend to do was ruffle feathers or raise hackles by using the words wheelchair bound. It's a term that I've used off and on, and really am not bothered by on a personal level - I wear a seat belt that I cannot remove myself, which is about as close to the actual definition of wheelchair bound as you can get! I also have long been tired of keeping up with the politically correct terms which I never seem to be asked my opinion on. Handicapped. Disabled. Physically impaired. Physically challenged. Differently abled. I'm honestly quite sick of all of it, and as my username makes clear have decided to go with gimp as a form of protest. I think the one I hate most of all, however, is the acronym PWD. Persons with disabilities. It sounds like I'm a fucking weapon of mass destruction (only in bed, ladies!). I prefer 'person', if anybody bothers to ask me, but failing that I just go by gimp. I don't mean this as any disrespect to those in the activist community who prefer certain terms or are offended by others, it's simply a personal choice and I respect the work that they do even if I don't always agree with it.
Anyway, just thought I would clear all of that up and maybe start a discussion for those that are interested. Also, if you like horror, you might like my story of a disabled woman that fights demons and monsters hidden among us, which you can read here. (I promise that's the last shameless plug!)