Glossary
Ability
Ability refers to the capacity to do things, understood in disability justice as something shaped by environments and social structures rather than a fixed measure of a person's worth.
Ability describes what a person is able to do, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. In LGBTQ+ and disability justice circles, ability is understood as something shaped by surroundings and social design, not an individual trait alone. A person's ability to take part in an event, for example, depends heavily on whether the space is accessible. The disability justice framework, developed largely by queer and disabled activists of color, rejects the idea that there is one normal way for bodies and minds to work. Recognizing a range of abilities means building spaces, communication, and communities where disabled LGBTQ+ people can participate fully, and treating access as a shared responsibility rather than an afterthought.
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