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Talking About Disability
A Guide to Using Appropriate Language
Times have changed for people with disabilities...but language lags behind.
The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws work to assure that people with disabilities have the same basic rights as people without disabilities. Some things have been slow to change; namely, attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities. Ignorance and discrimination can be serious impediments to achieving integration, productivity, and independence for people with disabilities.
The use of outdated language and words to describe people with disabilities contributes greatly to perpetuating old stereotypes. No longer should we view people with disabilities as helpless or tragic victims. Awareness is the first step toward correcting this injustice. If public opinion about people with disabilities is to be brought up to date, the public needs to hear and learn to use appropriate language.
It is especially important for the media, elected officials, public speakers, and others in leadership positions to portray people with disabilities sensitively and realistically.
This is a general guide to using descriptive words and language when talking to or about people with disabilities.
Guidelines for Talking about Disability
- Do not refer to a person's disability unless it is relevant.
- Use "disability" rather than "handicap" to refer to a person's disability. It is okay to say that a person is handicapped by obstacles, such as architectural barriers or the attitudes or ignorant or insensitive people. Never use "cripple/crippled" in any reference of disability
- When referring to a person's disability, try to use "people first" language. In other words, when necessary, it is better to say "person with a disability" rather than "a disabled person" in the first reference. Since "disabled" is an adjective, it is important to avoid ridiculous - and improper - constructions such as "disabled group" or "disabled transportation." Instead, build phrases using the word "disability." For example, "disability activist," or "disability community," are correct and not contradictions to the "people first" ideas.
- Avoid referring to people with disabilities as "the disabled, the blind, the epileptics, the retarded, a quadriplegic," etc. Descriptive terms should be used as adjectives, not as nouns.
- Avoid negative or sensational descriptions of a person's disability. Don't say "suffers from," "a victim of," or "afflicted with." Don't refer to people with disabilities as "patients" unless they are receiving treatment in a medical facility. Never say "invalid." These portrayals elicit unwanted sympathy, or worse, pity toward individuals with disabilities. Respect and acceptance is what people with disabilities would rather have.
- Don't portray people with disabilities as overly courageous, brave, special, or superhuman. This implies that it is unusual for people with disabilities to have talents or skills.
- Don't use "normal" to describe people who don't have disabilities. It is better to say "people without disabilities" or "typical," if necessary to make comparisons.
- Never say "wheelchair-bound" or "confined to a wheelchair." People who use mobility or adaptive equipment are, if anything, afforded freedom and access that otherwise would be denied them.
- Never assume that a person with a communication disorder (speech impediment, hearing loss, motor impairment) also has a cognitive disability, such as mental retardation. On the other hand, people with mental retardation often speak well.
Rules for Appropriate Language
non Table version
| USE | AVOID |
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person with a disability / has a disability
people with disabilities / have disabilities
disabled person
the disabled / the handicapped,
invalids, patients,
crippled, deformed, defective
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people without disabilities
typical person
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normal, healthy, able-bodied
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wheelchair user / uses a wheelchair
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wheelchair-bound / confined to a wheelchair
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congenital disability / birth anomaly
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birth defect / affliction
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has cerebral palsy (CP) or other condition
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a victim or cerebral palsy
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has had polio / experienced polio
has a disability as a result of polio
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suffers from polio / afflicted with polio
post-polios (as a noun referring to people)
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people who have mental retardation (MR)
person with mental retardation
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the mentally retarded / mentally deficient
a retardate / a retard (never)
a feeble-minded person
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child with a developmental delay (DD)
person with a developmental disability
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Slow
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person with Down Syndrome
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the Down's person / Mongoloid (never)
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person who has epilepsy
people with seizure disorders
seizure / epileptic episode or event
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the epileptic (to describe a person)
the epileptics
fits / epileptic fits
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people who have mental illness
person with a mental or emotional disorder
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the mentally ill
crazy, psycho, mental case (never)
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people who are blind / visually impaired
person who is hard of hearing
person who is deaf / the Deaf (Deafness is a cultural phenomenon and should be capitalized in those instances.)
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the blind - hearing impaired (translates as "broken hearing" in sign language)
deaf-mute
deaf and dumb
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speech or communication disability
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tongue-tied, mute
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