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Words Can Hurt:
Learn how to talk about disabilities
Words matter. They affect expectations, perceptions and feelings. People-first language is a more respectful, accurate way of communicating. People with disabilities are not their diagnoses or disabilities; they are people, first. Following are some common rules to remember when talking about disabilities.
Basic people-first language guidelines
- Make reference to the person first, then the disability. Say “a person with a disability” rather than a “disabled person.”
- A person isn’t a condition, so avoid describing a person as such. For example, don’t present someone as an “epileptic.” Instead, follow the first guideline and say “a person with epilepsy.”
- The term “handicapped” comes from the image of a person standing on the corner with a cap in hand, begging for money. Use the word handicap only to describe a situation or barrier imposed by society, the environment or oneself.
- If the disability isn’t germane to the story or conversation, don’t mention it.
| Use |
Avoid |
| Person with a disability |
Cripple/handicapped/invalid |
| Person who has/person with (e.g. person who has Cerebral palsy) |
Victim/afflicted with |
| Uses a wheelchair |
Restricted/confined to a wheelchair/wheelchair bound |
| Deaf/non-vocal |
Deaf mute/deaf and dumb |
| Disabled since birth/born with |
Birth defect |
| Psychiatric history/psychiatric disability/emotional disorder/mental illness |
Crazy/insane/lunatic/mental patient/wacko |
| Epilepsy/seizures |
Fits |
| Learning disability/developmental delay/intellectual disability |
Slow/retard/stupid/underachiever |
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