A growing number of Americans who navigate life with wheelchairs and hearing aids are rejecting a label that could unlock thousands of dollars in benefits and accommodations.
Story Overview
- Many assistive device users refuse the “disabled” label despite potential financial and social benefits
- This identity rejection movement challenges traditional medical and social definitions of disability
- The debate reveals deep tensions between empowerment and practical accommodation needs
- Language wars within disability communities reflect broader cultural shifts toward self-determination
The Great Identity Rebellion
Across America, wheelchair users are rolling into offices and declaring themselves “mobility device users.” Hearing aid wearers introduce themselves as people with “hearing differences.” These aren’t semantic games—they’re acts of personal revolution against a system that many feel reduces them to their limitations rather than celebrating their adaptations.
The stakes are real. Rejecting the disabled label can mean forgoing Social Security Disability benefits, workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and preferential parking spaces. Yet for many, preserving their self-concept as capable, independent individuals outweighs these practical considerations.
Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way. https://t.co/oGV3z67WVa
— Amy L. Sheinberg, Ph.D. (@dramysheinberg) November 15, 2025
When Labels Become Cages
The medical model that dominated the 20th century trained society to see wheelchairs as symbols of tragedy and hearing aids as markers of deficiency. This framework, while well-intentioned in providing support systems, created an unintended consequence: it made the tools that enhance independence seem like admissions of failure.
Modern assistive technology has shattered these old narratives. Today’s wheelchairs are engineering marvels that can climb stairs and navigate rough terrain. Advanced hearing aids connect to smartphones and filter background noise with artificial intelligence. These aren’t crutches—they’re enhancements that often surpass typical human capabilities.
The Politics of Personal Definition
This identity movement reflects deeper American values about individual autonomy and self-determination. Just as people choose their own names, career paths, and religious beliefs, many assistive device users insist on defining their own relationship with their tools and their bodies.
The disability rights movement itself is divided. Veteran advocates worry that rejecting the disabled label undermines decades of hard-fought political victories. They argue that collective identity provides power in numbers and that euphemistic language can actually perpetuate stigma by suggesting there’s something shameful about being disabled.
The Accommodation Paradox
Here’s where ideology meets reality: many people who reject the disabled label still need the accommodations that come with it. They want curb cuts, accessible bathrooms, and workplace modifications—but they don’t want to be seen as broken or lesser-than to get them.
This creates a fascinating tension in American society. We’ve built systems based on categories and labels, but individual identity increasingly transcends those boundaries. The result is a generation of people who use assistive devices as tools of empowerment while rejecting the traditional frameworks meant to protect and support them.
Sources:
Science Tech News South Africa
Shafaqna News USA
Sciurls Science News
Slow Chat Health Social Determinants
UN Office at Geneva Library Resources
