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MOCKING THE DISABLED IS CRUEL AND IMMORAL — ESPECIALLY WHEN THE
PRESIDENT DOES IT  
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Eric S. Jackson
December 11, 2024
Other Words
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_ As a speech scientist and speech-language pathologist, I hope
Donald Trump’s supporters will push back on his mockery of people
with disabilities. _

, A young girl works with a speech therapist. (Shutterstock)

 

For most people, verbal communication is a seamless, unthinking act.

But for individuals with communication disorders — such as
stuttering, aphasia, or other speech and language impairments —
speech is anything but automatic. They must not only
consider _what_ they say but also _how_ they say it, knowing their
manner of speaking might elicit judgment, dismissal, or ridicule.

And soon they’ll have to worry about that ridicule coming from the
White House again.

President-elect Trump has repeatedly mocked people with disabilities,
including his infamous imitation of a reporter with a congenital
movement disorder
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President Joe Biden’s stuttering
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often to eruptions of laughter from his supporters. Trump also
allegedly told his nephew
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let his son with developmental disabilities die.

When the most powerful leader in the world engages in this behavior,
it sends a chilling message: Some people are less deserving of respect
simply because of their disabilities or how they express themselves.

Worse still, many of Trump’s defenders normalize his behavior,
arguing that his comments are “just words” or “Trump being
Trump.” This allows stigma and discrimination to flourish, embedding
them deeper into the fabric of our society.

For individuals with communication disorders, this means more
judgment, more misunderstanding, and fewer opportunities to
participate fully in society. To accept or excuse this behavior is to
condone cruelty and undermine the principles of empathy and respect
that should define us as a nation.

In fact, verbal attacks and public ridicule significantly exacerbate
neurodevelopmental disorders like stuttering. These cruel reactions
can make it significantly more difficult, at a neural level
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for the individual to focus on their message and say what they want to
say. So individuals with communication disorders often choose to limit
their talking — and ultimately their participation in society.

Negative perceptions about stuttering perpetuate feelings of
inadequacy and unworthiness. Trump’s mockery of stuttering and other
disabilities exacerbates this and signals to his supporters that such
ridicule is acceptable — or worse, inconsequential.

This issue should transcend debates about political correctness,
“wokeness,” and whatever else. It’s a _moral_ judgment —
especially when it’s linked with his policy agenda, which includes
trying to eliminate the Department of Education. Among other things,
the department provides funding for students with disabilities.

If people genuinely care about humanity, they should understand that
Trump’s propensity to mock individuals with disorders or differences
isn’t a trivial lapse in behavior. It’s a direct attack on
humanity itself.

Communication is not just a human right, it is the cornerstone of
community, understanding, and progress. To mock someone for the way
they speak, or for any other disability, is to undermine their
humanity.

Will we stand up for the dignity of all individuals, or will we allow
mockery and disdain to dictate our national discourse?

Those who voted for Trump, particularly those who don’t face the
daily struggles of disability, bear a special responsibility to push
back against this behavior. They must recognize that their silence is
complicity — and that the defense of dignity transcends politics.

_Dr. Eric S. Jackson is a clinician-scientist, speech-language
pathologist, and an associate professor in the Communicative Sciences
and Disorders department at New York University. He’s a Public
Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project. This op-ed was distributed by
OtherWords.org._

OtherWords is a free editorial service published by the Institute for
Policy Studies. Each week, we publish a package of op-eds and
columns, plus an original cartoon, and distribute them to readers,
editors, and publishers through our website and newsletter. Each year,
hundreds of newspapers and websites reaching millions of readers use
this work.

* disabilities
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* Speech therapy
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* Donald Trump
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* speech disorders
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