"Differently abled" makes me want to puke, there is so much bad stuff behind those two words.
Just say "disabled" it is not a bad word okay. DISABLED DISABLED DISABLED.
It's okay to say that.
I'm sick of abled parents and other asshats defining how to refer to us or even how WE speak about ourselves.
They come running to tell you not to call yourself "disabled" because that is disrepectful. And they don't even see their hurtful, disgusting ignorance by doing that.
Just ... please educate yourself and don't follow their disgusting lead in how to disrespect your own child and other people in general.
You could start here http://www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html
As usual... if someone specifically requests words like that for themselves you do that. It's their choice.
But most disabled people prefer identity-first language like "disabled person". No euphemisms.
There are some who prefer person-first language like "person with a disabilty", although it's mostly parents who prefer that.
Just make sure you at least talk about disabled people how they want to be talked about.
Better: talk to us and let us do the talking about us.
Also, there are quite a few differences between (and even in) specific communities, because - wait for it - we are not all the same 👻
In Germany for example, people with what you would call "intellectual disabilities" mostly prefer the person first version "people with learning difficulties". In othter countries it's "person with an intellectual / cognitive disability".
You just learn it and respect it. It's that simple.
@Jules
Thank you, I wasn't aware of the terms "person first" and "identity first" for these things!
I'm usually (in German) fairly specific in a "person with a xxx disability" whenever it's doable, since most of the time I talk about a specific set of disabilities at a time. I'm never quite sure I get it right, of course.
(Bonus: das hilft mir auch, weil "behindert" an meiner Grundschule *das* Schimpfwort war, und ich mich deshalb vor dem isolierten Wort scheue...)
Oh and please: if you feel the need to explain your views on disability from an abled perspective to me - just don't. I'm not interested.