Last week I called out Cat Deeley for something she said on ‘This Morning’.
While speaking to Jesy Nelson about her twins and their diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, she said disabled children could “lead normal lives.”
I felt that this phrase is a dangerous assumption: that disabled lives are not already normal — that they are lesser, tragic, different or only acceptable if they can be corrected or prevented.
I pointed out that disability is not a problem to be solved. It is a natural and ordinary part of the human condition.
Cerebral palsy is not something I endure on the way to a “normal” life. It is one of the many characteristics that make me who I am, alongside the colour of my eyes and my love of dogs.
I believe that disabled people do not need fixing, reframing, or permission to belong.
My post elicited a huge response with some people agreeing that we all need to be more mindful of the language we use, particularly those in the public eye. Andrew Jeffreys commented: “It’s quite possible in an unscripted scenario that the phrase may not have been meant as it sounds. But this is a national TV programme and the subliminal effect may be as, if not more, harmful as a consequence. That is why consciously inclusive language matters.”
Whilst others highlighted the importance of empathy and understanding when opening up conversations around disability. Like Rebecca L who said: “I genuinely believe that in this unscripted moment, the word “normal” was used imprecisely, with no intention to offend, but rather to affirm that disability does not limit a person’s potential or the possibilities available to them. We need to recognise that people are human and may not always get language right. Instead of demonising these moments, we can use them as opportunities to build understanding and reinforce inclusive practice.”
I was really pleased with the level and variety of the responses to my post and thankful to all those who took the time to contribute to the discussion.
Creating space for honest discussion, challenge, and learning is exactly what my work — and the work of We Are All Disabled (WAAD) — is about.
It’s so important that we keep talking openly about disability, inclusion, and lived experience. By questioning assumptions and challenging the dominant narrative around disability, we can encourage people to think differently and help create positive, lasting change.
