Disabled? Me?

I was thinking about the name of ADHD. It stands for "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," right? So, what I want to know is, is a disorder a disability? When I was first diagnosed, a few years ago, I met with the Disability Services at my school, and they were able to get me a note to get accommodations. Not that I really need accommodations; I just need people who understand what's going on and can give me a little wiggle room when meds and stuff get in the way. So, apparently, by law or something, ADHD is considered is disability. So...yay? Ugh? How am I supposed to feel about this?

I'm not sure I really like the word "disability," or even "disorder" (although I like disorder better). They both seem to have negative connotations--even negative denotations. "Disability" comes from "dis-", meaning "not" or "apart" or "asunder" or "away" or "utterly" (dictionary.com), and "ability", which is defined as "power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc." (again, dictionary.com. Gotta love that website). So, literally, "disability" means "apart from the power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc."??? Why not just say "incapable?" That's essentially what they're saying, only in nicer terms. Excuse me--"politically correct." The same goes for "disorder." It means "apart from order," right? So that's..."not normal?" Again, ugh.

The funny thing is, they're finding more and more people who have ADHD than they originally thought. So what happens when ADHD becomes the new normal? What if more people have ADHD than not? What'll they call it, then? "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Order?" Or maybe "The Order of the Attention-Deficit and Hyperactive?" Sounds like some kind of cult or club. How do you join? Oh, just some trouble paying attention and/or sitting still. You know, having your brain wired differently. Not that hard at all--oh, yeah, and you have to be born into it. Even if you don't know it. No problem. Not at all.

Anyways, I still don't know how to feel about this. Yeah, I could get accommodations and all that jazz, but I still don't like being thought of as "disabled." I'm not disabled; I just think differently than you do. And, when it comes down to it, does it really matter that I think a little bit differently? Still don't know the answer to that one, but I'll keep looking.