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Use people-first language instead (for instance, “person with dyslexia” or “has dyslexia”). Expressions such as “suffers from”, “afflicted with” or “stricken with” are inappropriate.
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- On This Page
- Introduction
- Ableism
- Negative Terms Related to The Characteristics of Disability
- Negative Terms Related to The Experience of Disability
- Stereotypical Themes of Disability
- Slurs and Insults
- Competing Views on Person-First Language
Every step of your consultation process should respect and uphold the dignity of persons with disabilities. It is especially important when it comes to the language you use. As a rule, always use language that is gender-neutral and culturally sensitive. There are also language considerations to keep in mind when you talk about disability and access...
Ableism is a view or attitude that treats people without disabilities as “normal” and those with disabilities as “abnormal,” “inferior,” or “other.” Ableism can be both intentional and unintentional. Intentional ableism might involve things like: 1. bullying and ridicule (such as the use of slurs or insults) 2. using a person’s disability to take a...
Ableism is not always intentional, but it can still be harmful. Many common words and phrases may be offensive to persons with disabilities. They may also be misleading or confusing. Here are some examples of ableist, negative words and possible alternatives: 1. “their response was crippled by…”: 1.1. alternatives: slowed, delayed, disrupted 2. “we...
You can also find ableism in the words used to explain how people experience disability. For example, a phrase like “falling on deaf ears” could be offensive to persons with hearing disabilities even if you intend no harm. Negative language is very common. Consider these examples of ableist, negative language and alternatives: 1. “they suffered fro...
Ableism can also affect the kind of stories people tell or expect to be told about the lives of persons with disabilities. These stories can have themes based on assumptions about disability. They often treat persons with disabilities as “characters” rather than people. Even in real life, the stories we encounter can affect how we think of people a...
Do not use words or insulting terms that are known to cause harm. Some persons with disabilities might sometimes use such terms as a way to reclaim them, or to describe their own experiences. Your consultations should not introduce such language, and you should set clear standards for courtesy and respect.
These guidance modules use “person-first” language when describing persons with disabilities. We use it to emphasize the person rather than the disability. For example, instead of saying “disabled persons,” we say “persons with disabilities.” Person-first language may also involve using a phrase like “a person with a mobility disability” instead of...
Mar 22, 2023 · The way we refer to people living with disabilities comes down to whether we’re putting the person first, or their disability first. When we say “disabled person” or “handicapped person,” we’re using disability-first language.
Jul 29, 2022 · In this post, let’s explore a few (not all) of the most common disability-inclusive language mistakes and how you can use language that lifts and includes everyone. There is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding language surrounding disability. However, some general guidelines can be helpful.
- General terms related to equity and power. access. The elimination of discrimination and other barriers that contribute to inequitable opportunities to join and be a part of a work group, organization, community, or services (APA, 2021c).
- Person-first and identity-first language. person-first versus identity-first language. The discussion of person-first versus identity-first language was first applied to issues regarding people with disabilities (Andrews et al., 2019; Dunn & Andrews, 2015).
- Identity-related terms. Age. ageism. Stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age, regardless of whether the targeted individual or group is younger or older.
- Body size and weight. Weight stigma, independent of a person’s weight, is pervasive and has been linked to poorer psychological and physical health outcomes among the people who experience it (Zhu et al., 2022).
An example of people-first language is “a girl with Down syndrome” or “a boy with autism.” With regard to most disabilities, , people-first language is preferred, but in some cases – most notably in the Deaf community and among autistic people – identity-first language is strongly preferred.
People also ask
Is being deaf a disability?
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Putting the person first, as in “people with disability,” is called people-first language. It is commonly used to reduce the dehumanization of disability. Another popular linguistic prescription is the identity-first language, as in “disabled people.”.
