Non-discriminatory terminology
Emphasize the uniqueness and worth of the whole individual by using person-first language. Say a person who has a disability or person who is deaf rather than a disabled person or deaf person.
Because persons are not conditions, do not label individuals as in the disabled, epileptics, etc… Say instead people who have disabilities, have epilepsy, have/had polio, etc.
Avoid using words such as the following:
- VICTIM. Instead say a person who has or person who experienced or person with.
- CRIPPLE/CRIPPLED/THE CRIPPLED. Say a person with a disability or individual with a disability.
- AFFLICTED BY/AFFLICTED WITH. Say the person has.
- INVALID (literally means not valid). Say a person who has a disability resulting from or caused by.
- NORMAL. What most people, including those with disabilities, think they are.
- PATIENT. Connotes sickness and a person passively waiting to be served. Most people with disabilities are no sicker than others.
- SYMPATHY. Something most individuals with disabilities would trade instantly for acceptance and respect for their talents and abilities. Do not confuse with empathy or understanding.
- WHEELCHAIR BOUND/CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR. Say uses a wheelchair.
- HOMEBOUND EMPLOYMENT. Say works at home or telecommutes.
- UNFORTUNATE, PITIFUL, POOR, DEAF AND DUMB, MUTE, CRIP, DEFORMED, BLIND AS A BAT and any other words or clichés that are judgmental or stereotyping. No replacements.
- COURAGEOUS, BRAVE, INSPIRATIONAL and other similar words that are routinely used to describe any person who has a disability. Adapting to a disability does not necessarily include these traits.
Here are some suggestions for improving your language related to disabilities that was developed by PACER Center and first printed in “Early Childhood Connection”, a newsletter for Families of Young Children with Disabilities, June 1989.
| SAY: |
INSTEAD OF: |
| Child with a disability |
disabled or handicapped child |
| Person with cerebral palsy |
palsied, or C.P. or spastic |
| Person who has |
afflicted, suffers from, victim |
| Without speech |
mute, or dumb |
| Developmental delay |
slow |
| Emotional disorder or mental illness |
crazy or insane |
| Of short stature |
dwarf or midget |
| Uses a wheelchair |
confined to a wheelchair |
| Person with retardation |
retarded |
| Person with epilepsy |
epileptic |
| Has manic depression |
manic-depressive |
| With Down’s syndrome |
mongoloid |
| Has a learning disability |
is learning disabled |
| Person without disability |
normal, healthy, able-bodied |
| Has a physical disability |
crippled |
| Congenital disability |
birth defect |
| Condition |
disease (unless it is a disease) |
| Seizures |
fits |
| Cleft lip |
hare lip |
| Mobility impaired |
lame |
| Medically involved or chronic illness |
sickly |
| Paralyzed |
invalid or paralytic |
| Has hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of body) |
hemiplegic |
| Has parapligia (loss of function in lower body only) |
paraplegic |
| Deaf or hearing impaired and communicates with sign |
deaf and dumb |
|
